Analysis of CD4+ T cells in HIV-1 infection model combined with RTI and PI treatments

Abstract

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system and subsequently leading to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). CD4+ T cells are among the immune systems destroyed by HIV. The HIV transmission from cell to cell is an infection process of spreading HIV-1 infection. The study developed a mathematical model by considering the contact between HIV-1-infected CD4+ T cells and healthy CD4+ T cells, incorporating antiretroviral treatment. The stability of equilibriums for the model was studied. The local stability for disease-free equilibrium and the global stability for endemic equilibrium were studied. Numerical simulations were presented to examine the implication of antiretroviral therapy. Simulation results showed that reverse transcriptase inhibitor (RTI) therapy was more effective compared to protease inhibitor (PI) therapy in increasing the number of healthy CD4+ T cells.