Immune activation in primary HIV: influence of duration of infection, treatment, and substance use

Abstract Background Primary HIV is characterized by dynamic changes in viral load and innate and adaptive immune responses; it is unclear the extent to which time from acquisition to ART initiation and substance use impact these immunologic changes. Methods We studied plasma immune activation biomarkers, viral load, and CD4 + and CD8 + cell counts in participants from the Sabes primary infection study in Peru, who had been randomized to begin ART immediately after diagnosis vs. 24 weeks later. We modeled influence of substance use and duration of HIV infection on biomarkers at baseline and over 24 weeks. Results Compared to participants enrolled >30 days after HIV acquisition, participants enrolled during acute infection (<30 days) had higher mean IFN-γ and IFN-α2a (1.7-fold and 3.8-fold IQR higher, respectively). Participants enrolled >30 days after HIV acquisition had higher mean baseline CD8 + cell count (2.7 times the IQR). Alcohol use (positive PEth level) was associated with elevated IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-12p70, and smoking with higher MIP-1α, TNF-α, and IL-12p70. Most biomarkers declined more quickly in participants who initiated ART immediately, however substance use and duration of HIV infection at enrollment had little influence on rate of decline. Conclusion IFN-γ and other biomarkers are elevated during early primary infection, when exposure to HIV antigens is high. Immune activation decreased most quickly in those who started ART during acute/early primary infection. Higher CD8 + cell counts and a trend toward higher sCD163 levels during the 30 days after acquisition suggest the onset of compensatory responses and immune exhaustion.