Clinical Trial: Gut Associated Lymphatic Tissue (GALT) in HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)- Infected Patients

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: Phase IV Longitudinal Study of Gut Associated Lymphatic Tissue (GALT) in HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)- Infected Patients Before and During Antiretroviral Therapy (AR

Brief Summary: To date, despite the known benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART), many HIV-infected people are presenting late with very low CD4+ T-cells levels below 350/ul. These patients are more likely to be diagnosed with opportunistic infections, their risk of death is higher and their rate of immunological improvement is slower (Mussini C et al., 2008). These patients often present a real challenge due to their advanced clinical status (Borghi V et al., 2008). Unfortunately, little is known about the clinical presentation of these patients, their responses to antiretroviral treatment and especially about the changes in the adaptive and innate immunity of the GALT.

Detailed Summary:

The investigator proposes to evaluate the virological, immunological and clinical outcomes of ART in HIV-1 infected 'late presenters'. The investigator further wants to investigate the longitudinal dynamics of the innate and adaptive immunity restoration in the GALT and peripheral blood of HIV infected patients under ART. In particular the investigators want to longitudinally assess DCs, NK-cells, CD4+ T-cells und CD45RO+-T-cells as well as the levels of IFNγ, IFNα, TNFα, and IL-12 in the GALT and peripheral blood by flow cytometry and by real-time PCR and correlate these data with laboratory and clinical parameters.

The investigators expect that this longitudinal study and experiments outlined in the protocol will provide valuable information about several important issues of the clinical outcome of patients under ART as well as understanding immunopathology during HIV-infection.

Sponsor: Clara Lehmann

Current Primary Outcome: restoration of CD4 + T-cells in the GALT with ART [ Time Frame: 6 months ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

• Function of Dendritic Cells (DC) in the GALT with ART [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
  Functional characterization of DCs (IFNγ, IFNα) of DCs in the GALT
• Functional characterization of NK-cells in the GALT with ART [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
  Functional characterization on NK- cells (TNFα, and IL-12) in the GALT with ART

Original Secondary Outcome: DCs, NK-cells, as well as the levels of IFNγ, IFNα, TNFα, and IL-12 with ART [ Time Frame: 6 months ]

Information By: University of Cologne

Dates:
Date Received: August 31, 2012
Date Started: June 2011
Date Completion:
Last Updated: January 12, 2016
Last Verified: January 2016