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Biomedical subjects

C Rouzioux

Publications and source records attributed to C Rouzioux.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Frequency and phenotyping of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific CD8+ T cells in HIV-infected children, using major histocompatibility complex class I peptide tetramers.

HLA-A*02 tetramers complexed to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Gag SLYNTVATL and HIV Pol ILKEPVHGV peptides were used to characterize HLA class I-restricted CD8(+) T cells in 41 HIV-infected children. The frequencies and the phenotype of specific circulating CD8(+) T cells were determined in whole-blood samples by means of cytometric analysis. Background staining of 13 HLA-A*02-negative patients showed that the frequency of CD8(+) T cells was <0.01%. Of the 28 HLA-A*02-positive patients, blood samples from 26 stained positive at least once the Gag tetramer (mean CD8(+) T cells, 0.87%; range, 0.1%-3.9%), and blood samples from 21 stained positive for the Pol tetramer (mean CD8(+) T cells, 0.59%; range, 0.1%-5.5%). The tetramer-binding cells were CD28(-), CD45RA(-), CD45RO(+), HLA-DR(+), and CD69(-) T lymphocytes. HIV-specific CD8(+) T cells can be detected easily in peripheral blood of HIV-infected children, using HLA tetramers combined with HIV peptides. These cells are memory activated CD28(-)CD8(+) T lymphocytes.

Adolescent↗

Lamivudine-zidovudine combination for prevention of maternal-infant transmission of HIV-1.

CONTEXT: Zidovudine reduces maternal-infant transmission of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection by two thirds. Combination antiretroviral therapies are potentially more effective prevention. OBJECTIVES: To assess the safety of perinatal lamivudine-zidovudine therapy, especially in children, and its effects on viral load, acquisition of drug resistance, and maternal-infant transmission of HIV-1 in a nonbreastfeeding population. DESIGN AND SETTING: The Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le SIDA (ANRS) 075 Study, an open-label, nonrandomized intervention trial conducted in the context of an ongoing observational cohort study in 48 sites in France. PATIENTS: A total of 445 HIV-1-infected pregnant women were enrolled as the study cohort from February 1997 to September 1998; controls consisted of 899 pregnant women who had received zidovudine monotherapy in May 1994 to February 1997 as standard care. INTERVENTION: The study cohort received lamivudine in addition to the standard Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trial Group 076 Study zidovudine prophylaxis regimen. Lamivudine was initiated in women at 32 weeks' gestation through delivery at 150 mg twice per day orally; children received lamivudine, 2 mg/kg twice per day for 6 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: HIV-1 infection status and tolerance of therapy in children through age 18 months; maternal plasma HIV-1 RNA levels through 6 weeks after delivery. RESULTS: The transmission rate in the study group was 1.6% (7/437; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7%-3.3%). In a multivariable analysis, transmission in the study group was 5-fold lower than in controls. In the study group, maternal plasma HIV-1 RNA level was less than 500 copies/mL at delivery in 74%; the median decrease was 1.24 (range, -1.63 to 3.40) log(10) copies/mL. The M184V lamivudine resistance mutation was detected at 6 weeks after delivery in specimens from 52 of 132 women. The most frequent serious adverse events in children were neutropenia and anemia, requiring blood transfusion in 9 children and premature treatment discontinuation in 19. Two uninfected children died at age 1 year from neurologic complications related to mitochondrial dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Lamivudine-zidovudine may be effective in preventing maternal-infant HIV transmission. However, severe adverse effects and emergence of resistance to lamivudine occurred. Thus, the role of this combination therapy in this setting is as yet unclear, and further research involving a variety of strategies is needed to definitively ascertain its utility for preventing maternal-infant HIV transmission.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Proviral HIV-1 DNA in subjects followed since primary HIV-1 infection who suppress plasma viral load after one year of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

OBJECTIVE: An assessment of the impact of one year potent antiretroviral treatment initiated during primary HIV infection on the cell-associated viral burden. DESIGN AND METHODS: Proviral HIV-1 DNA was quantified in serial peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples from 19 patients enrolled in the French prospective PRIMO Cohort for whom plasma HIV RNA was suppressed to undetectable levels after one year of triple therapy; that is, plasma HIV-1 RNA was maintained below 200 copies/ml. Results were compared with those observed in 19 patients with chronic HIV-1 infection presenting the same degree of virus suppression after 12 months of treatment. RESULTS: At study entry, PRIMO subjects presented heterogeneous levels of proviral HIV-1 DNA: 2-3.92 log10 copies/10(6) PBMC and plasma HIV RNA: 2.3-6.5 log10 copies/ml. One year of effective highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) resulted in a median diminution of proviral DNA of -0.78 log10/10(6) PBMC in PRIMO subjects. The median decline in chronic-phase patients was -0.32 for those who were pre-treated and -0.52 for those previously naive of treatment. CONCLUSION: The decline in cell-associated HIV DNA observed throughout one year treatment indicated that HAART reduces the proviral HIV-DNA load more effectively when initiated during the primary rather than the chronic phase of HIV infection. These findings therefore tend to lend support to the early initiation of treatment. Nevertheless, heterogeneous baseline values observed for CD4 cell count, plasma HIV RNA and proviral HIV DNA in PRIMO subjects, raise the question of whether treatment should be delayed in some to spare early adverse effects of HAART.

Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active↗

Maternal plasma viral load, zidovudine and mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 in Africa: DITRAME ANRS 049a trial.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between maternal plasma RNA levels and mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV-1 in African breastfed children. DESIGN: Nested case-control study within a randomized trial assessing the efficacy of a short maternal zidovudine (ZDV) regimen to reduce MTCT. METHODS: Eligible women received either 300 mg of ZDV twice a day until labour, 600 mg at the beginning of labour and 300 mg twice a day for 7 days post-partum or a placebo. The diagnosis of paediatric HIV-1 infection was based on PCR tests at days 1--8, 45, 90 and 180 then on serology performed at 3 monthl intervals. Plasma HIV-1 RNA was measured at inclusion and on day 8 after delivery for all women who did transmit HIV to their children (cases) using a Chiron branched DNA assay (sensitivity 50 copies/ml) and compared with women who did not transmit (two per case) matched for phase trial, treatment allocation and site. RESULTS: At inclusion, mean log10 viral load was 4.6 among 55 transmitting mothers and 3.7 among 117 non transmitters (P = 0.0001). Among transmitters, the mean difference in log10 viral load between day 8 post-partum and inclusion was -0.13 in the ZDV group (n = 23) versus 0.27 in the placebo group (n = 32; P = 0.01); among non transmitters it was -0.35 for the ZDV group (n = 47) versus 0.27 in the placebo group (n = 70; P < 10(-4)). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, odds ratios for MTCT were 8.7 (95% confidence interval, 3.7-20.6) for 1 log(10) increase of maternal RNA at inclusion and 4.2 (95% confidence interval, 1.7--10.3) for 1 log(10) increase difference from inclusion to day 8 post-partum. CONCLUSION: High maternal viral load at inclusion strongly predicts MTCT of HIV in Africa. A short ZDV treatment regimen decreases significantly maternal viral load from its pretreatment level.

Africa↗

Patient-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte cross-recognition of naturally occurring variants of a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) p24gag epitope by HIV-1-infected children.

We tested seven human immunodeficiency virus-infected children for their cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activities towards the p24gag QASQEVKNW epitope and its nine variant sequences. Our data confirm that most, but not all, CTL responses are broadly cross-specific. For the first time, we show the high interpatient variability in cross-recognition of mutant CTL epitopes. These interindividual variations in the CTL response to the same epitope should be taken into account in the design and the evaluation of vaccines.

Child↗

Gene transfer of anti-gp41 antibody and CD4 immunoadhesin strongly reduces the HIV-1 load in humanized severe combined immunodeficient mice.

OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-HIV-1 effects of the delivery of anti-gp41 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and soluble CD4 (sCD4) immunoadhesin by genetically modified cells in HIV-1-infected, humanized severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. DESIGN: The complementary DNA of mAb 2F5, an anti-HIV-1 gp41 antibody, and of sCD4-IgG chimeric immunoadhesin were transferred into 3T3 cells using Moloney murine leukaemia virus vectors. The cells were then incorporated into a collagen structure called the neo-organ, which allowed the continuous production of the therapeutic molecules. METHODS: The antiviral effects in vivo of 2F5 or sCD4-IgG or both compounds were evaluated in neo-organ-implanted SCID mice that were grafted with human CD4 CEM T cells and challenged with HIV-1 Lai or MN. RESULTS: In SCID mice implanted with 2F5 neo-organs, antibody plasma levels reached 500-2000 ng/ml. Viral loads after HIV-1 challenge were significantly reduced in neo-organ-implanted HIV-infected mice. Although 29 x 10(7) and 13 x 10(8) HIV-1-RNA copies/ml were detected at 12 days in the controls (mice injected with Lai and MN, respectively) less than 16.5 x 10(3) HIV-1-RNA copies/ml were observed in all implanted mice injected with either Lai or MN. The intracellular viral load was also reduced in CD4 cells recovered from the implanted mice. Comparable antiviral effects were obtained with CD4-IgG neo-organs. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm the anti-HIV properties of 2F5 and sCD4-IgG continuously produced in vivo after ex-vivo gene therapy in SCID mice.

3T3 Cells↗

HIV RNA and HIV DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells are consistent markers for estimating viral load in patients undergoing long-term potent treatment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate residual viral replication by assessing the HIV load of circulating infected cells in patients given an effective antiprotease-containing treatment for 1 year. PBMC HIV RNA and HIV DNA was quantified by techniques standardized and evaluated by interlaboratory quality control testing. Viral markers identified in a multicenter study were validated in a cross-sectional study of 121 patients beginning treatment. A longitudinal study of 3 viral markers was carried out in 18 patients, each of whom had fewer than 200 copies of HIV RNA per milliliter of plasma after 12 months of treatment. The cross-sectional study showed that viral replication in PBMCs was correlated with the number of circulating infected cells (Spearman rank correlation; p = 0.0001, r = 0.35) and the concentration of virus particles in the plasma (Spearman; p = 0.0001, r = 0.54). The longitudinal study showed that the decrease in HIV RNA levels was smaller in PBMCs than in the plasma. The largest decrease in HIV DNA levels after 12 months of treatment was recorded in patients with low levels of intracellular replication (Spearman; p = 0.005, r = 0.69). PBMC HIV RNA and HIV DNA levels were very informative markers, complementary to plasma HIV RNA levels. They should be used in future trials evaluating the long-term efficacy of new associations of highly active antiretroviral treatments.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Detection of hepatitis C virus in the semen of infected men.

We detected hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in the semen of one third of HCV viraemic men. Seminal viral loads were low, but the semen could be infectious and the role of sexual transmission in the spread of HCV infection should not be underestimated.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

[HIV-1 quantitative dynamics in vivo: a review of mathematical models].

Over the last years, mathematical models have been applied in HIV infection to investigate the population dynamics of HIV-1 and cells of the immune system in infected hosts. They have contributed to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of AIDS. Among the model-based works, the quantitative studies carried out by two teams, during the years 1995, 1996 and 1997, have brought important results on HIV infection dynamics, reminding that HIV belonged to the lentivirus family, which had not been integrated in research of the previous years. In the studies on HIV dynamics, solutions of mathematical models were fitted to viral and/or immunological markers data in order to estimate the parameters of the viral and cellular production kinetics in infected patients. The present paper is a critical review of these studies. The methods and the most important results are presented. We explain why their impact was so considerable, but also show how the simplicity of modelling could result in conceptual errors. We finally discuss the contribution and the limits of mathematical models in the analysis of experimental data.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

CCR2B-64I chemokine receptor allele and mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission or disease progression in children. French pediatric HIV infection study group.

The beneficial role of a variant of the chemokine receptor CCR2B (CCR2B-641) in the evolution of HIV-1 infection in adults is still controversial. Furthermore, no studies have been performed in HIV-1-infected children. A multicenter and prospective study of 745 infants born to HIV-1-seropositive mothers was performed. The CCR2B-641 allele was studied in 525 non-African children among whom 523 had been previously genotyped for the CCR5delta32 allele and 220 African children. Of the 745 total, 376 children were infected and 369 were uninfected. In the complete population studied, the children homozygous for the CCR2B-64I allele and the heterozygous children were found distributed equally in the infected (respectively, 1.6% and 21%) and uninfected (respectively, 1.9% and 26.3%) groups (p < .22). Among 376 infected children, the incidence of stage C symptoms (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] classification) or the progression of severe immune deficiency (CD4 <15%, CDC stage 3) was not significantly different in heterozygous infected children or children homozygous for the normal allele (p < .17 and p < .75, respectively). The same lack of protective effect was obtained when a separate analysis was performed in the non-African and African HIV-1-infected children.

Adult↗

Frequent detection of HIV-1 in the gastric aspirates of neonates born to HIV-infected mothers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency and correlates of oral route exposure of infants born to HIV-1-infected women. METHODS: A multicenter study was performed within the prospective French Perinatal Cohort Study of mother-to-child HIV transmission. Oropharyngeal and gastric aspirates from 122 neonates were studied by reverse transcriptase (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of HIV-1, as well as for standard microbiology (Gram staining and culture). RESULTS: Aspirates from 101 neonates were analyzed by RT-PCR; 28% of these were positive for HIV RNA. Another 21 aspirates could not be tested because of PCR inhibition. The median concentration of HIV RNA in the positive aspirates was 126 copies/ml (range: 8-1270). Detection of HIV-1 in the aspirate was significantly related to high maternal plasma-viral load, presence of blood in the aspirate, positive Gram stain or culture, episiotomy or perineal lesions, and sexually transmitted infections during the pregnancy. Most of the mothers received zidovudine prophylaxis during pregnancy and delivery. Among the six infants who were infected with HIV, three had positive aspirates. Of the three assumed to have acquired the infection intrapartum, only one had an HIV RNA-positive aspirate. CONCLUSION: Exposure of the fetus to HIV via the oral route occurs frequently, even in the presence of zidovudine prophylaxis, and is likely to be one of the mechanisms of intrapartum transmission, but not the only one.

Adult↗

[Diagnosis and virologic monitoring of HIV infection].

The new challenge of the diagnosis of HIV infection concerns the treatment since an early diagnosis permits to start antiretroviral therapy with the aim to block the evolution to aids. The virological diagnosis may be done easily using new sensitive and specific techniques. Using the test of detection of p24 antigenemia and HIV-RNA in plasma, it is easy to approach the diagnosis of primary infection. The tests for HIV viral load are now largely available and they must be systematically included in the follow-up of infected persons.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

Persistent mitochondrial dysfunction and perinatal exposure to antiretroviral nucleoside analogues.

BACKGROUND: Zidovudine is commonly administered during pregnancy to prevent mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission. We investigated mitochondrial toxic effects in children exposed to zidovudine in utero and after birth. METHODS: We analysed observations of a trial of tolerance of combined zidovudine and lamivudine and preliminary results of a continuing retrospective analysis of clinical and biological symptoms of mitochondrial dysfunction in children born to HIV-1-infected women in France. Mitochondrial dysfunction was studied by spectrophotometry and polarography of respiratory-chain complexes in various tissues. FINDINGS: Eight children had mitochondrial dysfunction. Five, of whom two died, presented with delayed neurological symptoms and three were symptom-free but had severe biological or neurological abnormalities. Four of these children had been exposed to combined zidovudine and lamivudine, and four to zidovudine alone. No child was infected with HIV-1. All children had abnormally low absolute or relative activities of respiratory-chain complexes I, IV, or both months or years after the end of antiretroviral treatment. No mutation currently associated with constitutional disease was detected in any patient. INTERPRETATION: Our findings support the hypothesis of a link between mitochondrial dysfunction and the perinatal administration of prophylactic nucleoside analogues. Current recommendations for zidovudine monotherapy should however be maintained. Further assessment of the toxic effects of these drugs is required.

Acidosis, Lactic↗

Detection and quantification of HIV-1 in semen: identification of a subpopulation of men at high potential risk of viral sexual transmission.

BACKGROUND: To assess HIV burden in both acellular and cellular fractions of semen in men with different levels of blood plasma HIV RNA by a cross-sectional study. PATIENTS: Fifty-two HIV-1-seropositive men (21 receiving antiretroviral therapy) with CD4 cell counts ranging from 1 to 1170 x 10(6)/l. METHODS: Semen was separated into seminal plasma and fractions enriched in motile spermatozoa or non-spermatozoal cells. HIV RNA was quantified by the HIV-Monitor technique (Roche) in blood plasma, seminal plasma and spermatozoa fractions. HIV DNA or infectious virions in cellular fractions were detected by either PCR or qualitative viral culture. RESULTS: HIV RNA was detected in 86.5% of seminal plasma specimens and in 14.6% of spermatozoa fractions; HIV DNA was detected in 57.1% of non-spermatozoal cell fractions. HIV RNA levels in blood plasma and seminal plasma were correlated (r5 = 0.56, P < 0.0001, Spearman's rank test). A majority of men had lower levels in seminal plasma than in blood plasma: one-third had HIV-positive seminal cell fractions. However, 20 men (38.5%) with HIV RNA levels in seminal plasma (median: 4.65 log10 copies/ml) comparable to or higher than those in blood plasma had all HIV-positive non-spermatozoal cells or spermatozoa fractions with a high frequency of positive cultures. CONCLUSION: A high frequency of men had detectable HIV in semen. We identified a subpopulation demonstrating high levels of HIV RNA in seminal plasma, comparable to or higher than those in blood plasma, frequently associated with a substantial viral shedding in seminal cells, raising the possibility of viral production within the genital tract and suggesting heterogeneity in the potential of HIV sexual transmission among infected men.

Adult↗