The impact of raltegravir on TCR rearrangement processes may lead to reduced thymic output. A sub-study of the ANRS 138 easier trial
Background: Integrase
inhibitor is a new class of therapeutic compound for HIV-1 patients, described
as efficient and safe. However functional similarities between HIV-1 integrase
and the RAG1/2 enzymes, involved in T-cell receptor rearrangements, suggest
possible interactions of integrase inhibitors with thymic function. This study
was designed to evaluate the impact of raltegravir-based therapy on thymic
function and T-cell homeostasis.
Methods: T-cell
homeostasis was assessed at weeks 0 and 24 among virologically suppressed
patients enrolled in the ANRS 138 trial, who were randomized to maintain their
enfuvirtide-based regimen (M) or to switch to a raltegravir-based therapy (S). In
a sub-study (19 and 20 patients of each group), the evolution of T-cell subset
numbers and activation was measured by direct 6-colour flow cytometry while thymic
function was blindly analyzed through quantification of T Cell Receptor
Excision Circles (sjTRECs and DJβTREC) and calculation of the sj/βTREC ratio. In a second experiment, the
evolution of sjTREC frequencies was measured for 162 patients.
Results: In
both M and S patients, all CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets (naïve, RTE, central
and effector memory) and their activation status remained stable over 24 weeks.
In contrast, the sjTREC frequency significantly decreased under raltegravir
(median W0-W24 variation: -4.4 and -13.8 sjTREC/105cells in M and S
respectively; p< 0.05). Finally, the sj/βTREC
ratio remained unchanged in both M and S groups.
Conclusions: In the absence of increased
T-cell activation, the observed decrease in sjTREC frequency under raltegravir
might be related to raltegravir-induced decrease of thymic function through
inhibition of T-cell receptor rearrangements. These data require confirmation on other patient
populations.
S. Rozlan1, C. Codron1, J. Dutrieux1, S. Beq1, I. Charreau2, J. Braun2, V. Eliette2, B. Guillon2, J.-P. Aboulker2, J.-M. Molina3, Y. Levy4,5,6, C. Rabian7, R. Cheynier1
1Institut Pasteur, Virology, Paris, France, 2INSERM, Service Commun 10, Essais Thérapeutiques et Infection par le VIH, Villejuif, France, 3APHP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Paris, France, 4INSERM, U955, Creteil, France, 5Université Paris 12, Creteil, France, 6APHP, Groupe Henri-Mondor Albert-Chenevier, Immunologie Clinique, Creteil, France, 7APHP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Laboratoire d'Immunologie et Histocompatibilité, Paris, France