Understanding the effects of CMV on?6 T-cell populations in HIV patients starting antiretroviral therapy*

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) affects ?6 T-cell profiles in healthy individuals and transplant recipients, but the effects of HIV and CMV have not been distinguished in HIV patients. CMV-seropositive Indonesian HIV patients (n = 40) were studied before ART and after six months, alongside healthy controls (n = 20). 50% of patients started ART with detectable CMV DNA. Proportions of V62- ?6 T-cells were high in patients and declined on ART, whilst proportions of V62+ ?6 T-cells were uniformly low, and correlated inversely with levels of CMV DNA and CMVreactive antibody. Residual V62+ cells were enriched for markers of terminal differentiation, but this did not associate with CMV metrics. Patients with CMV DNA at baseline showed a direct correlation between CMV reactive-antibody and CD8+ ?6 T-cells. Our data are consistent with a role for CMV in the depletion of V62+ ?6 Tcells in HIV patients beginning ART, with no consistent evidence of a role for CMV in ?6 T-cell activation or differentiation.