FOXP3 mRNA levels are decreased in peripheral blood CD4+ lymphocytes from HIV-positive patients.
The impact of HIV infection on regulatory CD4(+)CD25(high) (Treg) lymphocyte subpopulations was evaluated by FOXP3 quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and by flow cytometry. FOXP3 mRNA was quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells or purified CD4(+) lymphocytes from HIV(+) lymphopenic patients. Patients were distributed among clinical stages A, B, and C and received highly active antiretroviral therapy. The frequency of CD4(+)CD25(high) lymphocytes, measured by flow cytometry, was decreased in HIV patients (n = 38) compared with the group of uninfected subjects (n = 39). FOXP3 mRNA levels were found decreased in HIV patients (n = 25) compared with controls (n = 17) when expression of CD3gamma or beta-actin but not that of TATA box binding protein 1 was used for data normalization. Our results are compatible with a decrease of the Treg lymphocytes during HIV infection. The consequences of a Treg decrease are discussed in the context of immunologic anomalies observed during HIV infection.
Apoil
Pol André
PA
Laboratoire d'Immunogénétique Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine de Rangueil, Toulouse, France. polapoil@wanadoo.fr
Puissant
Bénédicte
B
Roubinet
Francis
F
Abbal
Michel
M
Massip
Patrice
P
Blancher
Antoine
A
D000328:Adult; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D015870:Gene Expression; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology
D017252:CD3 Complex; C452842:CD3 antigen, gamma chain; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2