Dynamics of T cells and TCR excision circles differ after treatment of acute and chronic HIV infection

Abstract

We quantified T cell proliferation and thymic function in primary HIV infection (PHI; n = 19) and chronic HIV infection (CHI; n = 14) by measuring Ki67 staining and TCR excision circle (TREC) number. After antiretroviral therapy of PHI there is a profound decrease in the number and percentage of Ki67+ T cells (<6% Ki67+) with no significant increase in TREC per million cells and a transient increase in TREC per milliliter. In contrast, after antiretroviral therapy of CHI there is a reduction in the percentage but little change in the total number of Ki67+CD4+ T cells associated with increases in both TREC per million cells and TREC per milliliter. Using a mathematical model that accounts for..