@article{3084810,
    title = "Changes in T cell receptor excision DNA circle (TREC) levels in HIV type
1-infected subjects pre- and post-highly active antiretroviral therapy",
    author = "Touloumi, G and Pantazis, N and Karafoulidou, A and Mandalaki, T and and Goedert, JJ and Kostrikis, LG and Hatzakis, A",
    journal = "AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses",
    year = "2004",
    volume = "20",
    number = "1",
    pages = "47-54",
    publisher = "MARY ANN LIEBERT INC PUBL",
    issn = "0889-2229, 1931-8405",
    doi = "10.1089/088922204322749495",
    abstract = "The T cell receptor excision DNA circle (TREC) level is an independent
predictor of HIV-1 disease prognosis. We studied the temporal changes in
TREC levels prior to and after highly active antiretroviral therapy (
HAART) in a cohort of 131 Greek men with hemophilia who were followed up
for up to 20 years since seroconversion (SC). TREC levels were
determined in all available cryopreserved samples of peripheral blood
mononuclear cells ( PBMCs) using a multiplex real-time polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) assay. Trends in log(10) TREC values were described using
random effects models. Prior to HAART initiation TREC levels tended to
decrease over time ( mean rate of drop 19% per year; 95% CI: 16 -
22%). Initial TREC values were higher with younger age at SC, but the
subsequent rate of drop did not differ significantly by age at SC. There
was a monotonic relationship between baseline HIV-RNA levels and TREC
slopes with steeper slopes at higher levels of HIV-RNA. The TREC slopes
differed significantly by clinical outcome being steeper in subjects who
progressed to AIDS sooner. After HAART initiation, TREC values tended to
increase on average by 35% per year ( 95% CI: 27 - 94%) but the
increase was evident only in subjects with a pre-HAART CD4 count below
80 cells/mul. TREC values, which likely represent a simple indicator of
naive T-lymphocyte reserve, may be a clinically useful marker for
long-term prognosis of HIV-1 infection and for immune reconstitution
after successful HAART."
}