{
  "abstract": "Background Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation is associated with herpes zoster (HZ). While the live attenuated vaccine showed limited efficacy, the recombinant subunit vaccine (HZ/su) has shown strong immunogenicity in immunocompromised individuals. As data in people with HIV (PWH) are limited to those with high CD4+ T-cell counts, we investigated HZ/su immunogenicity in PWH according to CD4+ T-cell counts, with a focus on cell-mediated response.Materials and Methods We consecutively enrolled virally suppressed PWH (≥18 years, on ART, HIV RNA <50 copies/mL) receiving two HZ/su vaccine doses 2–6 months apart. Peripheral blood samples were collected before the first dose (T0) and one month post-second dose (T1), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated. PBMCs were stimulated with a pool of gE peptides for 20h, and gE-specific CD4+ - CD8+ T-cell responses were assessed by intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) and T-cell activation-induced marker (AIM) assays integrated in one multiparametric flow cytometry panel (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD69, CD137, CXCR5, CD45RA, CCR7).Results A total of 76 PWH were included in the study, 64 with CD4+ T-cell counts ≥350 cells/mm 3 (high) and 12 with CD4+ T-cell counts <350 cells/mm3 (low). The demographic features were comparable between groups, though subjects in the low group were older (table 1). The distribution of CD4+ T-cell subsets did not significantly differ over time within each group or between groups at either time point (figure 1A). An increase overtime in total gE-specific CD4+ T cells was observed in both groups, reaching significance only in the high group, particularly in the TEM subset (figure 1B). At T1, both study groups showed a higher frequency of polyfunctional Th1 gE-specific CD4+ T-cells compared with T0 across all analyzed CD4+ T-cell subsets; however, this increase was more pronounced in the high group, especially within the TEM compartment (figure 1C).Conclusion One month after the second dose, HZ/su induced gE-specific CD4+ T-cell responses in virally suppressed PWH across CD4+ strata, with stronger responses at higher CD4+ T-cell counts. These results confirm robust immunogenicity even in moderately immunosuppressed individuals and underscore the importance of CD4+ T-cell recovery in optimizing vaccine-induced cellular immunity, with potential implications for booster strategies in PWH.Abstract OC78 Figure 1Abstract OC78 Table 1",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "San Paolo Hospital, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "V Sala"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "San Paolo Hospital, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "R Rovito"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "San Paolo Hospital, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "E Zaninetta"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "San Paolo Hospital, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "C Acampora"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "L Benedetti"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "San Paolo Hospital, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "M Augello"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy",
        "Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "M Iannetta"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "San Paolo Hospital, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "C Tincati"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "San Paolo Hospital, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "G Marchetti"
    }
  ],
  "title": "OC78 T-cell mediated immune responses following recombinant HZ/su vaccine in people with HIV with different CD4+ T-cell count",
  "uid": "f8388486-b4a8-5283-8a4a-d0b80daaa73c"
}