Varicella-Zoster Virus-Specific Cell-Mediated Immune Reponses in HIV-Infected Adults

Abstract The incidence of herpes zoster remains high in HIV-infected patients despite the use of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). We wished to assess varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-specific cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses in HIV-infected adults on cART. VZV-specific CMI responses were assessed using lymphocyte proliferative responses, cytokine production (IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ), and interferon-γ ELISPOT assays in 103 HIV-infected adults and 30 healthy controls. HIV-infected patients were analyzed according to their current and nadir CD4 cell count and their use of cART. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with VZV-specific CMI responses. HIV-infected patients had lower VZV-specific CMI responses than healthy controls. Patients with a CD4 T cell count 300/μL and suppressed viral replication on cART had responses similar to those of healthy controls. In multivariate analysis,...