@article{6ec065f63eea4c1aa2c60c6478c5379f,
title = "Association between larger thymic size and higher thymic output in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy",
abstract = "To examine the impact of thymic size on immune recovery in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the thymus was visualized, using computed tomographic scans, in 25 HIV-infected patients who had received highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for 6-18 months and had levels of viremia <500 copies/mL. For comparison, 10 control subjects were included in the study. Total and naive CD4+ cell counts were determined by flow cytometry. To determine thymic output, the number of CD4+ cells containing T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) was measured. Qualitative immune recovery was evaluated by determination of CD4+ T cell receptor repertoire in 19 of the HIV-infected patients. Larger thymic size was associated with higher CD4+ cell counts (r=0.498; P=.011) and higher CD4+ TREC frequency (r=0.652; P<.001). Furthermore, patients with abundant thymic tissue seemed to have broader immunologic repertoires, compared with patients with minimal thymic tissue (P=.054). These findings suggest that thymopoiesis is ongoing in the adult thymus and contributes to immune reconstitution in HIV-infected patients receiving HAART.",
keywords = "Adult, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, Thymus Gland, Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed",
author = "Lilian Kolte and Anne-Mette Dreves and Ersb{\o}ll, {Annette K} and Charlotte Strandberg and Jeppesen, {Dorthe L} and Nielsen, {Jens O} and Ryder, {Lars P} and Nielsen, {Susanne D}",
year = "2002",
doi = "10.1086/340418",
language = "English",
volume = "185",
pages = "1578--85",
journal = "Journal of Infectious Diseases",
issn = "0022-1899",
publisher = "Oxford University Press",
number = "11",
}