Increased levels of regulatory T cells (T(regs)) in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients after 5 years of highly active anti-retroviral therapy may be due to increased thymic production of naive T(regs)
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Summary This study determines levels of regulatory T cells (T(regs)), naive T(regs), immune activation and cytokine patterns in 15 adult human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients receiving prolonged highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) who have known thymic output, and explores if naive T(regs) may represent recent thymic emigrant T(regs). HIV-infected patients treated with HAART with a median of 1 and 5 years were compared with healthy controls. Percentages of T(regs) (CD3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low)), naive T(regs) (CD3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+)CD45RA(+)) and activation markers (CD38(+)human leucocyte antigen D-related) were determined by flow cytometry. Forkhead box P3 mRNA expression and T cell receptor excision circles (T(REC)) content in CD4(+) cells were determined by polymerase chain reaction and cytokines analysed with Luminex technology. Levels of T(regs) were significantly higher in HIV-infected patients compared with controls, both after 1 and 5 years of HAART (P < 0.001), despite fully suppressed HIV-RNA and normalization of both CD4 counts, immune activation and cytokine patterns. Furthermore, levels of naive T(regs) were elevated significantly in HIV-infected patients (P < 0.001) and were associated with thymic output measured as the T(REC) frequency in CD4(+) cells (P = 0.038). In summary, T(reg) levels in HIV-infected patients are elevated even after 5 years of HAART. Increased thymic production of naive T(regs) may contribute to higher T(reg) levels in HIV-infection.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Clinical and Experimental Immunology |
Volume | 155 |
Issue number | 1 |
Pages (from-to) | 44-52 |
ISSN | 0009-9104 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |
ID: 34192541