Increased thymic mass and circulating naive CD4 T cells in HIV-1-infected adults treated with growth hormone

AIDS. 2002 May 24;16(8):1103-11. doi: 10.1097/00002030-200205240-00003.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether treatment with growth hormone (GH) enhances thymopoiesis in individuals infected with HIV-1.

Methods: Five HIV-1-infected adults were treated with GH for 6-12 months in a prospective open-label study. Immunological analyses were performed before GH treatment and repeated at 3 month intervals after GH initiation. Thymic mass was analysed using computed tomography with quantitative density and volume analysis. Analysis of circulating lymphocytes, including naive and memory T cell subsets, was performed using multiparameter flow cytometry.

Results: GH treatment was associated with a marked increase in thymic mass in all GH recipients. Circulating naive CD4 T cells also increased significantly in all patients during GH therapy, suggesting an enhancement of thymopoiesis.

Conclusion: GH has significant effects on the human immune system, including the reversal of thymic atrophy in HIV-1-infected adults. De-novo T cell production may thus be inducible in immunodeficient adults.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / pathology
  • Human Growth Hormone / adverse effects
  • Human Growth Hormone / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Leukopoiesis / drug effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Thymus Gland / drug effects*
  • Thymus Gland / pathology

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Human Growth Hormone