Pyridostigmine as Immunomodulator in People Living With HIV

Summary

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is characterized by persistent immune activation and a constant turnover of T cells. This leads to a precipitous fall in the number of T cells, as well as to an early immunosenescence. This results in increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections. In these patients, modulation of the immune response represents a promising mechanism to maintain immunological homeostasis and prevent the development of pathology. We hypothesize that the addition of pyridostigmine to the regular combined antiretroviral therapy will result in a decrease in T cell overactivation and a reduction in circulating inflammatory markers.

Timeline

Start

2019-07-01

Primary completion

2021-06-30

Completion

2022-06-30

Publications

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• Results Kaufmann GR, Perrin L, Pantaleo G, Opravil M, Furrer H, Telenti A, Hirschel B, Ledergerber B, Vernazza P, Bernasconi E, Rickenbach M, Egger M, Battegay M; Swiss HIV Cohort Study Group. CD4 T-lymphocyte recovery in individuals with advanced HIV-1 infection receiving potent antiretroviral therapy for 4 years: the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. Arch Intern Med. 2003 Oct 13;163(18):2187-95. doi: 10.1001/archinte.163.18.2187.
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• Results Moore DM, Hogg RS, Yip B, Wood E, Tyndall M, Braitstein P, Montaner JS. Discordant immunologic and virologic responses to highly active antiretroviral therapy are associated with increased mortality and poor adherence to therapy. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2005 Nov 1;40(3):288-93. doi: 10.1097/01.qai.0000182847.38098.d1.
• Results Piconi S, Trabattoni D, Gori A, Parisotto S, Magni C, Meraviglia P, Bandera A, Capetti A, Rizzardini G, Clerici M. Immune activation, apoptosis, and Treg activity are associated with persistently reduced CD4+ T-cell counts during antiretroviral therapy. AIDS. 2010 Aug 24;24(13):1991-2000. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e32833c93ce.
• Results Tracey KJ. Physiology and immunology of the cholinergic antiinflammatory pathway. J Clin Invest. 2007 Feb;117(2):289-96. doi: 10.1172/JCI30555.
• Results Valdes-Ferrer SI, Crispin JC, Belaunzaran PF, Cantu-Brito CG, Sierra-Madero J, Alcocer-Varela J. Acetylcholine-esterase inhibitor pyridostigmine decreases T cell overactivation in patients infected by HIV. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2009 Aug;25(8):749-55. doi: 10.1089/aid.2008.0257.
• Results Ku NS, Song YG, Han SH, Kim SB, Kim HW, Jeong SJ, Kim CO, Kim JM, Choi JY. Short communication: factors influencing time to CD4(+) T cell counts >200 cells/mm(3) in HIV-infected individuals with CD4(+) T cell <50 cells/mm(3) at the time of starting combination antiretroviral therapy. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2012 Dec;28(12):1594-7. doi: 10.1089/AID.2011.0282. Epub 2012 Jun 25.
• Results Kawashima K, Fujii T. The lymphocytic cholinergic system and its biological function. Life Sci. 2003 Mar 28;72(18-19):2101-9. doi: 10.1016/s0024-3205(03)00068-7.
• Results Rosas-Ballina M, Olofsson PS, Ochani M, Valdes-Ferrer SI, Levine YA, Reardon C, Tusche MW, Pavlov VA, Andersson U, Chavan S, Mak TW, Tracey KJ. Acetylcholine-synthesizing T cells relay neural signals in a vagus nerve circuit. Science. 2011 Oct 7;334(6052):98-101. doi: 10.1126/science.1209985. Epub 2011 Sep 15.
• Results Valdes-Ferrer SI, Crispin JC, Belaunzaran-Zamudio PF, Rodriguez-Osorio CA, Cacho-Diaz B, Alcocer-Varela J, Cantu-Brito C, Sierra-Madero J. Add-on Pyridostigmine Enhances CD4+ T-Cell Recovery in HIV-1-Infected Immunological Non-Responders: A Proof-of-Concept Study. Front Immunol. 2017 Oct 18;8:1301. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01301. eCollection 2017.

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