Paghera S, et al. - Researchers compared 21 perinatally HIV-infected cases (with a median of 27 years of infection) with 19 age-matched non-perinatally HIV-infected patients and 40 healthy controls, with respect to thymic and bone marrow output, telomere length (measured by Real-Time PCR) and T-cell receptor repertoire (determined by spectratyping). Combined antiretroviral therapy was received by all patients. The analyzed groups demonstrated no different thymic and bone marrow output, but a significantly lower telomere length in peripheral blood cells and T-cell receptor diversity were seen in HIV-perinatally and non-perinatally infected people vs healthy controls. Experts concluded that in HIV-infected people, the shift of newly generated cells into memory subsets could explain a normal thymic output combined with a decreased telomere length and a restricted T-cell receptor repertoire. Considering this phenomenon, viral infection control as well as peripheral homeostasis maintenance may be achieved.