Out of the closet & into the streets: therapy-induced increases in CD4+ cell count reflect redistribution.

Recent reports by Pakker and Gorochov suggest that the increase in CD4+ T-cells following HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) may not be due to a proliferation of new cells. Ho and Shaw demonstrated that protease inhibitor treatment caused a rapid loss of HIV in the blood, and sometimes an increase in CD4+ T-cells in HIV-positive patients. Ho and Shaw assumed that because they knew the amount of viral loss, they could calculate the number of CD4+ T-cells that were infected. The rate of CD4+ T-cell regeneration could hence be determined. However, the Pakker and Gorochov data indicate that the return of CD4+ T-cells is not due to the production of new cells, but rather to redistribution of all lymphocytes. This increase probably depends on the person's age, physical condition, or other variables; further research is needed.