Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) Treatment for Immune Non-responders With HIV-1 Infection

HIV-1 infection is characterized by progressive depletion of CD4+ T cells that eventually leads to clinically significant immunodeficiency. A chronic generalized immune activation is now being recognized to be the main driving force for T cell depletion, loss of anti-HIV-1 immunity and disease progression during chronic HIV-1 infection. However, it is still unknown whether reducing immune activation will restore CD4 T cell counts and leading to immune reconstitution in chronic HIV infection. Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) has been demonstrated to decrease immune activation of the host, and can suppress inflammation in human diseases. Here, the investigators propose a hypothesis that TwHF can reduce immune over-activation which subsequently leads to the restoration of CD4 T-cell counts and immune reconstitution in HIV-infected immune non-responders.