[Relationship of CD4+ CD25hi regulatory T (Treg) cells to disease progression in HIV-infected patients].
OBJECTIVE
Analyzing the relationships between peripheral blood CD4+ CD25hi regulatory T (Treg) cells and peripheral blood immune status or plasma HIV-lviral load in HIV-infected individuals,so as to determine whether Treg were related to the progression of HIV-infected disease.


METHODS
116 HIV-infected patients in different stages and 21 healthy control individuals were included in this study. The CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts were determined by a standard 4-color flow cytometry technique. The Treg cells were examined with 3-color immune staining flow cytometry. The plasma HIV-1 viral load was detected by real time PCR.


RESULTS
The frequencies of Treg cells decreased in HIV-infected individuals with high CD4+ T cell counts( > 300/microl) compared with normal controls. With the progression of disease the frequencies of Treg cells were raised gradually, until were increased in HIV-infected individuals with low levels of CD4+ T cell counts ( < 100/microl). In addition, the frequencies of Treg cells were inversely related to CD4+ T cell counts and CD4+ /CD8+ ratio, data showed a statistically significant (respectively, r = -0.564, P < 0.001; r = -0.377, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the proportions of Treg cells were closely related to plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load (r = 0.514, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
CD4 CD25hi Treg cells should be a kind of important cells participating the immunopathogenesis of AIDS. It may play different roles in different stages of HIV-infected disease. The exact mechanism of Treg cells in the progression of the HIV-infected disease needs to be investigate further.
Song
Shu-jing
SJ
Institute of Infectious Diseases, Capital Medical University, China
Feng
Xin
X
Guo
Jing-jing
JJ
Iu
Ya-nan
YN
Lun
Wen-hui
WH
Wei
Hong-shan
HS
Liu
Shun-ai
SA
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load
D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit