Distinct transcriptomic profiles of naive CD4+ T cells distinguish HIV-1 infected patients initiating antiretroviral treatment at acute or chronic phase of infection

We analyzed the whole transcriptome characteristics of naive CD4+ T cells isolated from the blood of HIV-1 infected patients starting ART at acute or chronic phase of infection with the purpose of characterizing the impact of early ART initiation on naive T cell transcriptome integrity compared to non-infected individuals. In addition to quantifying the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two groups of HIV-1 infected patients in relation to one another and to non-infected controls and their participation in biological processes we also characterize in detail DEGs involved in the process of apoptosis, inflammation and immune responses which play a pivotal role in dysfunctions identified during HIV-1 infection