Hydroxychloroquine drastically reduces immune activation in HIV-infected, antiretroviral therapy-treated immunologic nonresponders

Blood. 2011 Sep 22;118(12):3263-72. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-01-329060. Epub 2011 May 16.

Abstract

Despite optimal suppression of HIV replication, restoration of CD4(+) T cells is not always achieved in antiretroviral therapy-treated individuals. Defective CD4 recovery in immunologic nonresponders is possibly associated with TLR-mediated immune activation driven by alterations of gut permeability. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) reduces endosomal TLR signaling; thus, we verified whether HCQ could dampen immune activation and be associated with an increase in CD4(+) T cells. To this end, we enrolled in a prospective study 20 HIV-infected immunologic nonresponders (CD4 count < 200 cells/mL or CD4 increase < 5% in the last 12 months) who received 400 mg/day HCQ for 6 months. HCQ had a notable impact on immune activation as shown by significant modifications of the following parameters: (1) reduced plasma lipopolysaccharide; (2) decreased TLR4-expressing CD14(+) cells, TLR4-mediated signal transduction, and mRNA synthesis; (3) reduced percentages of activated CD4(+) (CD4(+)/Ki67(+)) and CD14(+) (CD14(+)/CD69(+)) cells; (4) increased T-regulatory cells (Tregs), naive Tregs, and TLR4-expressing Tregs; (5) augmented plasmacytoid dendritic cells and reduced IFNα-secreting plasmacytoid dendritic cells; and (6) reduced IL-6 and TNFα production. HCQ-induced immune modulation was associated with increased percentages of circulating CD4(+) T cells and was mostly retained 2 months after therapy interruption. HCQ reduces lipopolysaccharide/TLR-mediated immune activation; this compound could be a useful immunomodulant in HIV-infected patients. This study is registered at EutraCT as 2009-012499-28 with study number HLS01/2009-1-16-03-2009.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antigens, CD / analysis
  • Antigens, CD / biosynthesis
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Cytokines / analysis
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / metabolism
  • HIV Infections / pathology
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / growth & development
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / administration & dosage
  • Hydroxychloroquine / therapeutic use*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Immunologic Factors / administration & dosage
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Ki-67 Antigen / analysis
  • Ki-67 Antigen / biosynthesis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monocytes / cytology
  • Monocytes / drug effects*
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Monocytes / virology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Toll-Like Receptors / analysis*
  • Toll-Like Receptors / biosynthesis
  • Viral Load / drug effects*

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Antigens, CD
  • Cytokines
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Hydroxychloroquine