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Biomedical subjects

J F Delfraissy

Publications and source records attributed to J F Delfraissy.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cidofovir in AIDS-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: a monocenter observational study with clinical and JC virus load monitoring.

A monocenter observational study was conducted to determine the clinical and virological effects of cidofovir added to highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in AIDS-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Exposure to other anti-viral drugs or late initiation of cidofovir were exclusion criteria. Of the 53 consecutive patients with virologically proven PML admitted at the NeuroAIDS Unit of Bicêtre Hospital between May 1996 and July 2000 and having received HAART with or without cidofovir, 46 met the inclusion criteria. Cidofovir was initiated in most cases on compassionate grounds. The 22 patients treated with HAART only (HAART group) were compared to the 24 patients treated with HAART and cidofovir (CDV group). Survival, neurological outcome assessed by the expanded disability status scale (EDSS), and monitoring of the JC virus (JCV) load in CSF were investigated prospectively. At baseline (date of initiation or intensification of HAART), both groups were similar regarding CD4 cell count, plasma HIV load, CSF JCV load, EDSS, and demographic features. Both groups had similar response to HAART in terms of plasma HIV load and CD4 cell count. At month 6, CSF-JCV load was below the detection level in 8 out of 24 (33%) patients from the CDV group and 7 out of 18 (39%) patients from the HAART group (P = 0.71). One-year cumulative probability of being alive was 62% in the CDV group and 53% in the HAART group (P = 0.72). However, an additional benefit with respect to survival was observed in patients who were given cidofovir after adjustment to the following baseline variables (CSF-JCV load, CD4 cell count, and EDSS). Despite the addition of cidofovir to HAART, no significant benefit had been observed in neurological outcome, particularly in patients with an early worsening.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Isolated human astrocytes are not susceptible to infection by M- and T-tropic HIV-1 strains despite functional expression of the chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4.

Within the brain, HIV-1 targets the microglia and astrocytes. Previous studies have reported that viral entry into astrocytes is independent of CD4, in contrast to microglia. We aimed to determine whether chemokine receptors play a role in mediating CD4-independent HIV-1 entry into astrocytes. We found that embryonic astrocytes and microglial cells express CCR5, CCR3, and CXCR4 transcripts. Intracellular calcium levels in astrocytes were found to increase following application of RANTES, MIP-1beta (CCR5-agonist), SDF-1alpha (CXCR4-agonist), but not eotaxin (CCR3-agonist). In microglial cells, eotaxin was also able to modulate internal calcium homeostasis. CD4 was not present at the cell surface of purified astrocytes but CD4 mRNA could be detected by RT-PCR. Neither HIV-1(9533) (R5 isolate) nor HIV-1(LAI) (X4 isolate) penetrated into purified astrocytes. In contrast, mixed CNS cell cultures were infected by HIV-1(9533) and this was inhibited by anti-CD4 mAb in 4/4 tested cultures and by anti-CCR5 mAb in 2/4. Thus, the HIV-1 R5 strain requires CD4 to penetrate into brain cells, suggesting that CCR5 cannot be used as the primary receptor for M-tropic HIV-1 strains in astrocytes. Moreover, inconstant inhibition of HIV-1 entry by anti-CCR5 mAb supports the existence of alternative coreceptors for penetration of M-tropic isolates into brain cells.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Treatment intensification with abacavir in HIV-infected patients with at least 12 weeks previous lamivudine/zidovudine treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate that lamivudine and zidovudine, given separately (lamivudine/zidovudine) or as a single combination tablet (Combivir), had equivalent efficacy. To evaluate the safety and antiretroviral activity of intensification with abacavir in patients treated with lamivudine/zidovudine for > or = 12 weeks. DESIGN: A 12-week, equivalence study of lamivudine/ zidovudine versus Combivir. Patients who completed this study could enter a 48-week, intensification study of Combivir plus abacavir. METHODS: In the equivalence study, treatment-naive patients were assessed for HIV-1 RNA, CD4 cell count and genotype. The same assessments plus phenotype were made in the intensification study. Serious adverse events were recorded in the equivalence study and all adverse events in the intensification study. RESULTS: Lamivudine/zidovudine (n=40) and Combivir (n=35) gave equivalent reductions in plasma HIV-1 RNA levels at week 12. An identical proportion of patients (74%) in each treatment group harboured virus with the M184V mutation after 12 weeks. Fifty-two patients entered the intensification study and 44 completed 48 weeks of treatment. At the time of intensification with abacavir, all 35 patients with evaluable isolates harboured HIV-1 containing M184V. Addition of abacavir to Combivir led to further decreases in plasma HIV-1 RNA and increases in CD4 cell counts compared with the start of intensification (P<0.001 at week 48). After 48 weeks of triple therapy, multi-nucleoside resistance mutations at codons 69 and 151 were not detected in any patients. All treatment regimens were generally well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Lamivudine/zidovudine and Combivir have equivalent antiretroviral activity over 12 weeks. Adding abacavir to Combivir can be a safe and effective therapeutic option for patients, including those harbouring virus with the M184V mutation.

Administration, Oral↗

Pregnancy and progression to AIDS: results of the French prospective cohorts. SEROGEST and SEROCO Study Groups.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether pregnancy accelerates HIV-1 disease progression. METHOD: In two large French SEROCO and SEROGEST prospective cohorts of HIV infected patients, the progression to AIDS in 365 women with a known date of HIV-1 seroconversion was examined by comparing those who delivered after HIV infection (n = 241) with those who did not become pregnant while HIV-infected (n = 124). RESULTS: The crude relative risk of developing AIDS associated with pregnancy was 0.7 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.4-1.2]. Adjustment for age at seroconversion, the CD4+ cell percentage at entry, and the method used to date seroconversion did not modify the results (adjusted relative risk, 0.7; 95% CI 0.4-1.2). CONCLUSIONS: No deleterious effect of pregnancy on progression from seroconversion to AIDS was found. This result has important implications for the counselling of HIV-infected women of child-bearing age.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Rapid progression to AIDS in HIV+ individuals with a structural variant of the chemokine receptor CX3CR1.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) enters cells in vitro via CD4 and a coreceptor. Which of 15 known coreceptors are important in vivo is poorly defined but may be inferred from disease-modifying mutations, as for CCR5. Here two single nucleotide polymorphisms are described in Caucasians in CX3CR1, an HIV coreceptor and leukocyte chemotactic/adhesion receptor for the chemokine fractalkine. HIV-infected patients homozygous for CX3CR1-I249 M280, a variant haplotype affecting two amino acids (isoleucine-249 and methionine-280), progressed to AIDS more rapidly than those with other haplotypes. Functional CX3CR1 analysis showed that fractalkine binding is reduced among patients homozygous for this particular haplotype. Thus, CX3CR1-I249 M280 is a recessive genetic risk factor in HIV/AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Role of nitric oxide in the promoting effect of HIV type 1 infection and of gp120 envelope glycoprotein on interleukin 4-induced IgE production by normal human mononuclear cells.

Increased levels of serum IgE have been described in HIV-1 infection; however, mechanisms implicated in this immunoglobulin production remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that in vitro infection of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by HIV-1 monocytotropic (Ba-L) or lymphocytotropic (LAI) strains promotes IL-4-induced IgE production, indicating that the HIV-1 infectious process may participate in the IgE production observed in vivo. The effect of membrane glycoproteins (gp160, gp120, and gp41) was also evaluated. It was found that gp120 specifically potentiates in a dose-dependent manner IL-4-induced IgE production and does not affect IL-4-induced IgG, IgA, or IgM production. In these experiments, gp160 was also found to upregulate IL-4-induced IgE production, whereas gp41 was ineffective. This effect of gp120, gp160, and HIV-1 infection on IgE synthesis was not observed in the absence of IL-4. In the presence of IL-4, the inducing effect of gp120 appeared to be indirect because gp120 did not modify purified B lymphocyte IgE production after IL-4 and anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody stimulation. As HIV-1 infection is associated with alterations of PBMC redox metabolism, the role of nitric oxide (NO) in this IgE production by human PBMCs was evaluated. In the presence of a specific inhibitor of NO synthase pathways (L-NAME), IgE production induced by IL-4 and gp120 was abolished. Taken together, these data indicate that HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 (and gp160) specifically enhances IL-4-induced IgE production by normal human PBMCs, probably through the regulation of the nitric oxide pathway.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Detection of infectious HIV in circulating monocytes from patients on prolonged highly active antiretroviral therapy.

The existence of a reservoir of resting CD4+ T cells harboring latent replication-competent HIV has been demonstrated in patients on prolonged highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Latently infected tissue macrophages may constitute a second HIV reservoir. The pool of these cells may be maintained by incoming infected monocytes from blood and/or by in situ viral replication. In this study, the presence of infectious HIV was investigated in highly purified monocytes from 5 patients receiving HAART with undetectable plasma viral load for up to 16 months. HIV was detected in freshly isolated monocytes and recovered following Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain 1 (SAC) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation. No new drug resistance-associated mutation was found in monocyte-associated HIV. These results demonstrate the long-term persistence of infectious virus in cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage in patients receiving HAART. These cells are capable of releasing infectious virus under appropriate stimulations.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Natural history of serum HIV-1 RNA levels in 330 patients with a known date of infection. The SEROCO Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the spontaneous course, before the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), of HIV-1 RNA during the AIDS-free period of the disease. To assess the predictive value of changes in HIV-1 RNA levels. DESIGN: A total of 330 patients with a known date of infection followed in the SEROCO cohort. METHODS: HIV-1 RNA levels (threshold, 200 copies/ml) were evaluated from 2243 frozen sera obtained from enrolment until the onset of AIDS or until February 1996. Lowess curves were used to describe the variations of viraemia during follow-up. A Cox regression model was used to assess the predictive value of early and updated CD4 cell count and viral load. RESULTS: In addition to a lower early viral load, patients who remained AIDS-free had, on average, a longer period of viral load decrease after infection (36 versus 18 months), followed by a slower viral load increase compared with those who progressed to AIDS. A true plateau-phase after the seroconversion period, lasting approximately 4 years, was identified only in patients who remained AIDS-free for at least 90 months. In multivariate analysis, both early viral load and later changes were significant predictors of progression to AIDS. A decrease in the CD4 cell count to less than 200 cells/microl and the onset of a group B condition remained significant predictors of progression. CONCLUSION: Our study extends to the early post-seroconversion phase the prognostic value of extracellular HIV-1 RNA levels. Moreover, our data suggest that, in most HIV-infected individuals, a progressive loss of control of viral replication arises during the early years of HIV-1 infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Early virological failure in naive human immunodeficiency virus patients receiving saquinavir (soft gel capsule)-stavudine-zalcitabine (MIKADO trial) is not associated with mutations conferring viral resistance.

The MIKADO trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of stavudine-zalcitabine-saquinavir (soft gel capsule) [d4T-ddC-SQV(SGC)] in 36 naive patients (-3.3 log(10) units at week 24 [W24]). Among the 29 patients remaining on d4T-ddC-SQV(SGC) until W24, 10 harbored a virological failure (viral load of >200 copies/ml at W24) (group 1). To determine the reasons for therapeutic failure, genotypic and phenotypic resistance test results and SQV concentrations in plasma were analyzed and compared to those in successfully treated patients (viral load of <200 copies/ml at W24) (group 2). Reverse transcriptase and protease genotypic analyses in group 1 revealed the acquisition of only one SQV-associated mutation (L90M) in only two patients. There was no significant increase in the 50 or 90% inhibitory concentration of SQV in patients with or without the L90M mutation. However, the fact that two patients developed an L90M mutation only 4 weeks after relapse points to the need for genotypic resistance testing in the context of an initial failure of the antiretroviral regimen. At W24, the median SQV concentration in group 1 (71 ng/ml) was significantly lower than in group 2 (475 ng/ml), and the plasma SQV concentration was correlated with the viral load at W24 (r = -0.5; P<0.05) and with the drop in viral load between day 0 and W24 (r = -0.5; P<0.01). These results and the fact that the plasma SQV concentrations in the two groups prior to relapse (W12) were not significantly different strongly suggest that the early failure of this combination is not due to viral resistance but to a lack of compliance, pharmacological variability, and drug interactions or a combination of these factors.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Cytomegalovirus retinitis in advanced HIV-infected patients treated with protease inhibitors: incidence and outcome over 2 years.

We prospectively studied the incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in 93 patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) containing a protease inhibitor (PI), during a median follow-up period of 24 months. The median initial CD4+ count was 22 cells/microl (range, 1-311 cells/microl), and the median plasma HIV viral load was 5.1 log10 copies/ml (range, 2.4-6.4 log10 copies/ml). The fundus was examined monthly in patients with a history of CMV retinitis or an initial CD4+ count <50 cells/microl and every 3 months in the other patients. Of patients with previously controlled CMV retinitis, 1 of 7 relapsed. In addition, 6 of 59 patients with a CD4+ count <50 cells/microl and no history of CMV retinitis before starting PI therapy developed CMV retinitis. Of them, 3 had at least one relapse during follow-up. CD4+ counts were <40 cells/microl at the time of primary or recurrent CMV retinitis, except in two cases (147 cells/microl and 203 cells/microl). In conclusion, the incidence of CMV retinitis was 0.091 per patient-year among study subjects with advanced HIV infection who were receiving HAART (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.037-0.145). The time to progression of CMV retinitis (mean, 215 days; 95% CI, 113-317 days) was longer than reported before widespread use of PIs.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

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↗

[Immunologic and viral mechanisms implicated in HIV infection: the impact of treatment].

HIV-infection leads to the destruction of the immune system, mainly of the subgroup of CD4 lymphocytes. The main cell surface receptor for the VIH is the CD4 molecule. However the virus can penetrate into the cell through the CCR5 chemokine receptor that represents a new avenue for antiviral therapy. The early phase of HIV infection is characterised by an active viral replication mainly in lymph nodes. During the development of the infection, persistent viral replication leads to the destruction of CD4 lymphocytes and inhibits their turnover. Highly active antiretroviral therapy inhibits viral replication but can not eradicate the virus. However this treatment can efficiently restore immune function and allows to avoid opportunistic infections. Antiretroviral therapy could be associated with an immunotherapy (interleukin-2, therapeutic vaccination) in order to achieve a more satisfying T-cell specific response directed against the virus, which appears to be lost early in the course of the disease, except in the subgroup of patients with a low progression of the disease.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

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↗

Comparison of subcutaneous and intravenous interleukin-2 in asymptomatic HIV-1 infection: a randomised controlled trial. ANRS 048 study group.

BACKGROUND: Intermittent interleukin-2 therapy for HIV-1 by continuous intravenous infusion leads to sustained increase of CD4 T cells. This method of administration is, however, inconvenient and has limiting toxic effects. We did a randomised study to compare safety and efficacy of antiviral treatment alone or combined with various interleukin-2 regimens in HIV-1-infected patients. METHODS: 94 symptom-free patients, naïve to antiretroviral treatment, with CD4-T-cell counts of 250-550 cells/microL at baseline were randomly assigned zidovudine and didanosine alone (n=26) or combined with interleukin-2 administered intravenously (12 million IU/day, n=22) or subcutaneously (3 million IU/m2 twice daily, n=24) for 5 days, or were given polyethylene-glycol-modified (PEG) interleukin-2 (2 million IU/m2 intravenous bolus, n=22) administered every 2 months from week 2 to week 50 (seven cycles). Safety and immunological and virological results were monitored until week 56. FINDINGS: CD4-T-cell count increased to higher than baseline by a mean of 564 cells/microL (subcutaneous group), 676 cells/microL (intravenous group), 105 cells/microL (PEG group), and 55 cells/microL (antiretroviral-therapy group, p=0.0001). 68% and 77% of patients in the subcutaneous and intravenous groups, respectively, achieved an 80% increase of CD4 T cells (p<0.001). In these two groups, 50% of patients restored a CD4/CD8-T-cell ratio of more than 1. The groups did not differ significantly for changes in plasma HIV-1 RNA loads throughout the study. The duration of common side-effects of interleukin-2 was shorter in the subcutaneous group, which enabled outpatient treatment. Naïve and memory CD4 T cells, CD28 expression on CD4 and CD8 T cells, and restoration of in-vitro proliferative response to mitogens and recall antigens increased in the intravenous and subcutaneous groups. INTERPRETATION: Subcutaneous interleukin-2 is a convenient regimen that, as well as intravenous therapy, improves immunological function in HIV-1-infected patients receiving two nucleosides. Larger studies are needed to show whether immunological improvements translate into clinical benefit.

Adult↗