Efficacy of etravirine combined with darunavir or other ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors in HIV-1-infected patients: an observational study using pooled European cohort data.

OBJECTIVES: This observational study in antiretroviral treatment-experienced, HIV-1-infected adults explored the efficacy of etravirine plus darunavir/ritonavir (DRV group; n = 999) vs. etravirine plus an alternative boosted protease inhibitor (other PI group; n = 116) using pooled European cohort data. METHODS: Two international (EuroSIDA; EUResist Network) and five national (France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and UK) cohorts provided data (collected in 2007-2012). Stratum-adjusted (for confounding factors) Mantel-Haenszel differences in virological responses (viral load < 50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were balanced between groups except for previous use of antiretrovirals (≥ 10: 63% in the DRV group vs. 49% in the other PI group), including previous use of at least three PIs (64% vs. 53%, respectively) and mean number of PI resistance mutations (2.3 vs. 1.9, respectively). Week 24 responses were 73% vs. 75% (observed) and 49% vs. 43% (missing = failure), respectively. Week 48 responses were 75% vs. 73% and 32% vs. 30%, respectively. All 95% CIs around unadjusted and adjusted differences encompassed 0 (difference in responses) or 1 (ORs). While ORs by cohort indicated heterogeneity in response, for pooled data the difference between unadjusted and adjusted for cohort ORs was small. CONCLUSIONS: These data do not indicate a difference in response between the DRV and other PI groups, although caution should be applied given the small size of the other PI group and the lack of randomization. This suggests that the efficacy and virology results from DUET can be extrapolated to a regimen of etravirine with a boosted PI other than darunavir/ritonavir.

Impact of reverse transcriptase resistance on the efficacy of TMC125 (etravirine) with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors in protease inhibitor-naïve, nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-experienced patients: study TMC125-C227.

OBJECTIVES: TMC125-C227, an exploratory phase II, randomized, controlled, open-label trial, compared the efficacy and safety of TMC125 (etravirine) with an investigator-selected protease inhibitor (PI) in nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-resistant, protease inhibitor-naïve, HIV-1-infected patients. METHODS: Patients were randomized to TMC125 800 mg twice a day (bid) (phase II formulation; n=59) or the control PI (n=57), plus two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). RESULTS: In an unplanned interim analysis, patients receiving TMC125 demonstrated suboptimal virological responses relative to the control PI. Therefore, trial enrolment was stopped prematurely and TMC125 treatment discontinued after a median of 14.3 weeks. In this first-line NNRTI-failure population, baseline NRTI and NNRTI resistance was high and reduced virological responses were observed relative to the control PI. No statistically significant relationship was observed between TMC125 exposure and virological response at week 12. TMC125 was better tolerated than a boosted PI for gastrointestinal-, lipid- and liver-related events. CONCLUSIONS: In a PI-naïve population, with baseline NRTI and NNRTI resistance and NRTI recycling, TMC125 was not as effective as first use of a PI. Therefore the use of TMC125 plus NRTIs alone may not be optimal in PI-naïve patients with first-line virological failure on an NNRTI-based regimen. Baseline two-class resistance, rather than pharmacokinetics or other factors, was the most likely reason for suboptimal responses.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the pleasant activities list.

This paper describes the development of a new 139-item behavioral questionnaire (PAL) assessing the frequency and enjoyability of pleasant activities occurring in the natural environment of patients with substance use disorders. The sample consisted of 265 patients with mainly substance use disorders and 272 healthy controls. Group comparisons indicated that patients reported lower frequency, enjoyability, and cross-product activity scores than controls. This study confirms previous findings that addiction is associated with a decreased level of engagement in pleasant activities. The PAL seems to be a standardized, feasible, and valid instrument to sample non-substance-related rewarding activities in patients' everyday lives.

Costimulation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells through CD26: the ADA-binding epitope is not essential for complete signaling.

It was previously shown that CD26 (DPP IV, EC 3.4.14.5) is a binding site for adenosine deaminase (ADA, EC 3.5.4.4) on T cells and that costimulation by some anti-CD26 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and anti-CD3 induces CD4+ T cell proliferation. The CD26 epitopes involved in costimulation, the precise sequence of the events preceding proliferation, and the response of CD8+ compared with CD4+ T cells to CD26 were not extensively studied. We therefore compared the effects of the novel TA5.9 anti-CD26 mAb, recognizing an ADA-binding epitope, and the clearly distinct anti-Ta1 reference anti-CD26 mAb for their costimulatory properties in various T cell subsets. Both purified CD4+ and CD8+ T cells proliferated upon costimulation with anti-CD3 and either anti-CD26 mAb, but anti-TA5.9 mAb induced a more potent response than anti-Ta1. Either anti-CD26 mAb, together with anti-CD3, caused a similar sequential up-regulation of CD69, CD25 (IL-2R alpha), and CD71 (transferrin receptor) expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The activation markers appeared faster on the CD45R0+ than on the CD45R0- subsets. After costimulation, CD4+ T cell cultures contained significant amounts of the Th1 cytokines IL-2, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). In CD8+ T cell cultures relatively more IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha but almost no IL-2 was measured after triggering of CD3 and CD26. Our data demonstrate that the recognition of the ADA-binding epitope is not a prerequisite for the costimulatory capacity of anti-CD26 mAbs. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and their CD45R0- and CD45R0+ subsets are sensitive to various aspects of activation via CD26, but the magnitude and/or kinetics differ according to the anti-CD26 used and the T cell subset studied.

Prevalence of genotypic and phenotypic resistance to anti-retroviral drugs in a cohort of therapy-naïve HIV-1 infected US military personnel.

OBJECTIVE: While transmission of drug-resistant HIV-1 has been reported, estimates of prevalence of resistance in drug-naïve populations are incomplete. We investigated the prevalence of genotypic mutations and phenotypic antiretroviral resistance in a cohort of HIV-1 infected U.S. military personnel prior to the institution of antiretroviral therapy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study. METHODS: Plasma was obtained from 114 recently HIV-1 infected subjects enrolled in an epidemiological study. Genotypic resistance was determined by consensus sequencing of a PCR product from the HIV-1 pol gene. Sequences were interpreted by a phenotypic-genotypic correlative database. Resistance phenotypes were determined by a recombinant virus cell culture assay. RESULTS: Genotypic mutations and phenotypic resistance were found at a higher than expected frequency. Resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors was most common, with a prevalence of 15% of 95 subjects by genotype and 26% of 91 subjects by phenotype. Genotypic and phenotypic resistance respectively were found in 4% and 8% of subjects for nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and in 10% and 1% for protease inhibitors. One subject harbored virus with resistance to all three drug classes. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial frequency of resistance to antiretroviral drugs was identified in a therapy-naïve U.S. cohort. In most cases, the genotypic and phenotypic assays yielded similar results, although the genotypic assay could detect some protease inhibitor resistance-associated mutations in the absence of phenotypic resistance. These data suggest the need for optimization of treatment guidelines based on current estimates of the prevalence of drug resistance in HIV-1 seroconverters.

Decreased expression of the memory marker CD26 on both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes of HIV-infected subjects.

Using a novel anti-CD26 (or anti-dipeptidyl peptidase IV) monoclonal antibody, we showed that the absolute numbers and the proportions of T4 and T8 cells expressing CD26 were significantly lower in HIV-infected persons than in controls. The absolute number of CD26+ T4 cells decreased according to disease progression, whereas the number of CD26+ T8 cells was low throughout all clinical stages. These trends were similar in CD26 dim and bright positive T-cell subsets. In both controls and HIV-positive subjects, the CD26 bright positive T cells were restricted to the CD45RO+ subset and preferentially co-expressed CD25 but largely lacked HLA-DR and CD38. Recall antigen-responsive cells from seronegative individuals were shown to co-express CD26 and CD45RO. The deficient CD26 expression on T8 cells from HIV-infected subjects could be normally upregulated after in vitro stimulation. In contrast to decreased T-cell-bound CD26, the enzymatic activity of plasma CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase IV was unchanged in HIV-infected patients compared with controls. We conclude that HIV infection leads to a deficient in vivo co-expression of CD26 bright and CD45RO on T cells. We speculate that this deficiency might play a part in the decrease of immunological memory during HIV infection.

Deficient T-cell responses in non-responders to hepatitis B vaccination: absence of TH1 cytokine production.

The inability to mount a protective level (> or = 10 IU/l) of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-specific antibodies after vaccination is presumably the consequence of a defect in the cellular immune regulation. We compared the in vitro immune responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from high, intermediate and non-responders, after stimulation with recombinant HBsAg. The absence of a proliferative response in non-responders was not reversed by removal of CD8+ T cells, indicating that HBsAg-specific CD8+ T-cell-induced suppression was not the underlying cause of non-responsiveness. Non-responders did not produce cytokines after HBsAg stimulation. High responders displayed a typical Th1-like profile since their PBMC produced interleukin-2 (IL-2) and gamma-interferon (IFN gamma) and no detectable IL-4 or IL-5 upon stimulation with HBsAg.

Altered receptor expression and decreased sensitivity of T-cells to the stimulatory cytokines IL-2, IL-7 and IL-12 in HIV infection.

A dysregulated production of regulatory cytokines has been proposed as a determinant in the progression of HIV infection. The sensitivity of T-cells to these cytokines has, however, not fully been investigated. Therefore, the responses of PBMC and T-cell subsets to the stimulatory cytokines IL-2, IL-7 and IL-12 in HIV-infected patients and HIV-negative controls were compared by examining their effect on the production of secondary cytokines (IFNgamma, IL-4 and IL-10), by simultaneous determination of T-cell activation and apoptosis and by measuring cytokine receptor expression. Production of IFNgamma was decreased in PBMC from the patients after stimulation with several combinations of stimulatory cytokines. IL-10 was only induced upon stimulation with IL-2 and IL-12 and tended to be produced more in patients. Expression of the different cytokine receptor chains showed complex alterations in HIV+ patients as compared to controls. The most pronounced changes were decreased expression of both IL-2Ralpha and IL-7Ralpha chain on CD8+ T-cells and an increase of IL-12Rbeta on both T-cell subsets from the patients. Evaluation of CD25 upregulation and blast formation revealed a deficient response to all three stimulatory cytokines in CD8+ but not in CD4+ T-cells from patients as compared to controls. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells from the patients were less sensitive to the anti-apoptotic effect of IL-7 whereas only CD8+ T-cells were less sensitive to the anti-apoptotic effect of IL-2. The present data show that CD8+ T-cells, and to a lesser extent CD4+ T-cells, become less sensitive to IL-2, IL-7 and IL-12 during HIV infection. The decreased capacity of T-cells to respond to these cytokines could contribute to the HIV-related immune dysfunction.

Immunologic, endocrine and psychological influences on cortisol-induced immunoglobulin synthesis in vitro.

In the present study, the relationship between psychological variables and hydrocortisone (HC)-induced immunoglobulin (Ig) production in vitro was investigated. Ninety-five human volunteers were selected based on their extreme (low or high) scores on a daily hassles and a symptoms questionnaire. Four groups were composed: (1) few hassles, few symptoms; (2) many hassles, few symptoms; (3) few hassles, many symptoms; and (4) many hassles, many symptoms. Incubating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) for 2 weeks with HC (concentrations ranging from 10(-8) to 10(-6) M), resulted in a concentration-dependent rise in IgM and IgG secretion. In vitro IgM as well as IgG secretion were found to be related to plasma Ig levels. Plasma cortisol levels were positively associated with HC-induced IgG secretion. Furthermore, Ig secretion was found to depend on psychological profile, indicating a differential sensitivity of PBMC to HC for the four groups.

Hypertension and objective and self-reported stressor exposure: a review.

A review of the literature on the relationship between blood pressure and stressor exposure revealed a discrepancy between the results of studies based on objective measures of stressor exposure and studies based on self-reports. Whereas in the studies based on objective measures, a clear predominance of positive associations between blood pressure level and stressor exposure was found, in the studies based on self-reports, the results were highly inconsistent. Several moderator variables have been proposed that could explain the discrepancies found in the literature, such as awareness of hypertension and treatment. In studies in which these moderators were taken into account, inverse associations between blood pressure and self-reported stressor exposure have often been found. It is suggested that this result is brought about by altered appraisal of stressors in hypertensives.

Modulation of immune response to rDNA hepatitis B vaccination by psychological stress.

In a previous study it was shown that antibody formation after vaccination with a low-dose recombinant DNA (rDNA) hepatitis B vaccine was negatively influenced by psychological stress. The present study was designed to assess whether the same inverse relation between HBs-antibody levels and psychological stress could be observed, while administering the standard, and thus higher, dose of vaccine. Volunteers (n = 68) scoring extremely low or high on a combination of questionnaires measuring daily problems and psychoneurotic symptoms were selected for participation. Antibody levels were determined 2, 6, and 7 months after the first vaccination. Questionnaires were completed before entering the study and at month 6. In contrast to the previous study, psychological stress was not found to be related to the antibody levels at any timepoint. These results suggest that, under certain conditions, stress-induced immunomodulation in vivo might be dependent on antigen dose.

Virological response with fully active etravirine: pooled results from the DUET-1 and DUET-2 trials.

The objective of this subanalysis of the Phase III DUET trials was to examine virological response to an etravirine-containing regimen in patients harbouring virus fully sensitive to etravirine. Full etravirine sensitivity was defined as fold change in 50% effective concentration (FC) ≤3 or weighted genotypic score ≤2. At Week 48 in the etravirine group, 74% of patients with etravirine FC ≤3 and 77% with etravirine genotypic score ≤2 had viral load <50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL, versus 48% and 46%, respectively, in the placebo group (P < 0.0001). Response rates increased with baseline phenotypic sensitivity score, but were consistently higher with etravirine (56-82%) than placebo (2-72%). Similar observations were made in patients harbouring virus with full etravirine and darunavir sensitivity. Our findings support current recommendations to include three active agents in treatment-experienced patients' regimens.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor etravirine in treatment-experienced HIV-1-infected patients.

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the antiretroviral agent etravirine were evaluated in two phase III clinical trials. Pharmacokinetic data were available in 577 patients randomized to receive etravirine. The mean (SD) population-pharmacokinetics-derived area under the concentration-time curve at 12 h (AUC(12 h)) and concentration at 0 h (C(0 h)) were 5,501 (4,544) ng·h/ml and 393 (378) ng/ml, respectively. Hepatitis C coinfection raised etravarine exposure, and concomitant use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate lowered etravirine exposure, but these changes were not considered clinically relevant. Etravirine apparent oral clearance was not affected by age, weight, sex, race, hepatitis B coinfection status, creatinine clearance, or concomitant use of enfuvirtide. Virologic response (<50 copies/ml) at week 24 was 59% in patients randomized to etravirine vs. 41% in those receiving placebo (P < 0.0001). There was no apparent relationship between etravirine pharmacokinetics and either efficacy or safety. Factors other than the pharmacokinetics of etravirine such as the characteristics of the patients and the disease, as well as characteristics of the treatment regimen, predict virologic response.

A convenient and economical freezing procedure for mononuclear cells.

Cryopreservation techniques have become essential in longitudinal evaluation of lymphocyte function. This study describes a convenient method for freezing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, using a small cryocontainer. Analysis of cell function, assayed by lymphoproliferation to recall antigens and by cytotoxic capacity of activated lymphocytes, was performed in parallel on fresh and frozen-thawed cells. Although cryopreservation did affect lymphocyte function, our results indicate that this freezing method performed equally well compared to a computer controlled device. We conclude that the cryocontainer has proved to be a suitable and practical tool in clinical studies and is an economical alternative to conventional methods.

In vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HIV- and HIV+ chancroid patients by Haemophilus ducreyi antigens.

The cellular immune responses to fractionated Haemophilus ducreyi antigens, coated on latex beads, were assessed in patients with chancroid and in controls, using an in vitro lymphocyte proliferation assay. Several fractions of H. ducreyi antigen revealed stimulating activity. However, only the molecular size ranges 91-78 kD, 59-29 kD, and 25-21 kD induced proliferation that may be specifically related to H. ducreyi infection. Lymphocytes from four HIV- patients, successfully treated for chancroid, were not stimulated by H. ducreyi antigen. In general, lymphocytes from HIV+ chancroid patients were less responsive to H. ducreyi antigen compared with those from HIV- chancroid patients. However, two HIV-infected patients showed exceptionally strong responses to high molecular weight fractions. To our knowledge this is the first report demonstrating that H. ducreyi contains specific T cell-stimulating antigens. Based on this work, further identification and purification of the T cell antigens is feasible.

Superantigen activation of CD4+ and CD8+T cells from HIV-infected subjects: role of costimulatory molecules and antigen-presenting cells (APC)

T cell receptor (TCR) triggering via superantigens induces decreased proliferative responses and increased apoptosis in T cells from HIV-infected patients compared with controls. Our aim was to delineate the role of intrinsic T cell defects, of APC dysfunction and of cytokines and costimulatory signal dysregulation in the deficient responses of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from HIV+ subjects to the superantigen Staphylococcus enterotoxin A (SEA). Proliferation and IL-2R alpha up-regulation on SEA-stimulated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in whole blood were reduced in HIV+ subjects with CD4 counts < 500, compared with controls. Neither addition of IL-2, IL-12 or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) nor neutralization of endogenous IL-10, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), TNF-beta or transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) could restore the decreased activation by SEA. Possible intrinsic T cell defects were studied by presenting SEA on HLA-DR-transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, co-expressing LFA3 and/or CD80, to purified T cells. In this system CD8+ T cells from most HIV+ patients were hyporesponsive with regard to IL-2 production, IL-2R alpha up-regulation and proliferation, whereas clearly reduced responses were only shown in CD4+ T cells from AIDS patients. Similarly, apoptosis was increased in CD8+ T cells from all patients, but only in CD4+ T cells from AIDS patients. During HIV infection, the responses to TCR triggering through SEA are deficient in both T cell subsets. The intrinsic defect appears earlier during disease progression in purified CD8+ T than in CD4+ T cells, it occurs in conjunction with both CD2 and CD28 costimulation, and it is correlated with increased levels of apoptosis.

Expression patterns of Fc gamma receptors, HLA-DR and selected adhesion molecules on monocytes from normal and HIV-infected individuals.

The expression and co-expression profiles of functionally important monocyte surface markers were compared between control and HIV+ individuals using combined physical gating and dim CD4 expression to delineate the monocytes. The Fc gamma RII (CD32), the MHC class II antigen HLA-DR and the adhesion molecules CD11a (LFA-1 alpha), CD18 and CD54 (ICAM-1) showed an unimodal distribution. Of these markers, CD11a and HLA-DR were up-regulated in the HIV+ subjects compared with controls. The expression levels of the adhesion molecules correlated with each other in both patients and controls. The CD11b (CR3-alpha), CD14, Fc gamma RI, and Fc gamma RIII markers were bimodally distributed. Compared with controls, monocytes from seropositives contained fewer CD14bright+ cells, an equal proportion of Fc gamma RIbright+ cells, but twice as many Fc gamma RIII+ cells. The expression level of Fc gamma RI and CD11b within their brightly positive subset increased as CD4 T cells decreased. Both in patients and controls, co-expression of bright CD11b, CD14 and Fc gamma RI was shown, whereas the Fc gamma RIII+ cells were negative or dim positive for the former triad. We conclude that the expression of two Fc gamma R (I and III), of the adhesion molecules CD11a and CD11b and of HLA-DR showed particular alterations on monocytes from HIV+ subjects. The relationship of these phenotypic observations with altered cytokine profiles and altered monocyte function is discussed.

Longitudinal comparison of virus load parameters and CD8 T-cell suppressive capacity in two SIVcpz-infected chimpanzees.

In a longitudinal study we address the hypothesis that resis tance to disease progression in lentivirus-infected chimpanzees is related to potent non-cytotoxic suppression of virus replication. In a long-term follow-up, the viral suppressive capacity in two simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)cpz-infected chimpanzees was correlated with two polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- and two culture-based virus load measurements. In both animals, quantitative virus isolation (QVI) tended to decline slowly, whereas in vitro virus suppression was sustained or increased over time. In general, plasma virus loads in SIVcpz-infected animals were maintained for extended periods of time. Based on current assays that measure virus suppressive capacity in peripheral blood, it was not possible to conclude that virus suppression played a major role in the maintenance of the disease-free state in lentivirus-infected chimpanzees.

Virologic, immunologic, and clinical follow-up of a couple infected by the human immunodeficiency virus type one, group O.

The pathogenic course (virologic, immunologic, and clinical changes) of infection due to human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1) group O viruses is unknown at present. To address this issue, serial HIV-1 isolates from a married couple (patients A and B) infected with a group O virus were analyzed to determine the temporal association between disease status and alterations in several parameters including plasma viral burden as measured by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction, changes in CD4+ T cells, presence of neutralizing antibodies, and the ability to induce syncytia on the MT2 cells. For patient A who has been asymptomatic for at least 8 years, both the absence of syncytium-inducing (SI) variants and the presence of autologous and heterologous neutralizing antibodies correlated with a clinically healthier status. In contrast, a switch from NSI to SI variants was observed in patient B in 1990, followed by an expanded in vitro host range, increased viral burden, and a sharp decrease in CD4+ T cells 4 years later. Moreover, plasma obtained from this patient uniformly failed to neutralize both autologous and heterologous viruses. These observations in patient B correlated with a slightly unfavorable clinical status. Based on our preliminary results, it appears that the pathogenic course of infections due to group O viruses is similar to that reported previously for infections due to group M viruses.

Phenotypic and functional parameters of cellular immunity in a chimpanzee with a naturally acquired simian immunodeficiency virus infection.

The cellular immunologic and virologic status of a chimpanzee, naturally infected with a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-like lentivirus (SIVcpz-ant), was compared longitudinally with those of 3 HIV-1-infected and 5 uninfected chimpanzees for a period of 49 months. Evidence of immune deficiency was not observed in the HIV-1-infected chimpanzees, nor could virus be isolated from plasma. Virus could be isolated from plasma of the SIVcpz-ant-infected chimpanzee, but clinical signs of immune deficiency were never observed. Absolute CD4+ cell counts remained relatively stable, but NK cells fluctuated significantly over time and tended to correlate inversely with the virus titer in peripheral blood. Although only CD8+ T cells were directly demonstrated to exert a suppressive effect on viral replication in vitro, the observed fluctuation of NK cells suggests that these cells may also be involved in the interaction with lentivirus infection in this species.