Accumulation of TNF-–producing T cells following HAART.

(A) Evolution of plasmatic viral load and ex vivo CD4 T-cell counts is depicted in treated patients. Boxes and Whisker plots indicate mean values, SEM and SD, respectively; vertical bars, SEM; and shaded rectangle, threshold of viral load detection. (B) TNF-α and TNF-RII plasmatic concentrations are given, with open box indicating HIV⁻ controls; the shaded box, HIV⁺PI⁻ patients; and the solid box, HIV⁺PI⁺ patients after 9 months of treatment including PIs. (C) PBMCs were stimulated 16 hours with PMA, PHA, and ionomycin. Dot-plots from a representative patient are given before and after 18 months of treatment (left panel); percentages and absolute counts (middle and right panel, respectively) of TNF-α–producing T cells following HAART. Asterisk indicates P < .05 vs baseline level (Wilcoxon signed rank test); paragraph symbol, P < .05 vs HIV⁻ controls (Mann-Whitney U test).