title: Modulation of Regulatory T-Cell Subsets in Very Long-Term Treated Aviremic HIV(+) Patients and Untreated Viremic Patients.
abstract: Naïve, central- and effector-like memory regulatory T cells (Tregs) were evaluated in untreated and long-term antiretroviral-treated HIV(+) patients that showed comparable CD4(+) cell levels, while being, respectively, viremic and aviremic. In the untreated patients, the percentage of naïve-like Tregs was significantly increased to the detriment of central memory regulatory T cells. This redistribution of regulatory Treg subsets may contribute to explain the partially preserved CD4(+) cell counts seen in these patients despite the ongoing viremia. On the contrary, in the long-term treated patients, the percentages of Treg subsets were similar to those of healthy donors, demonstrating a restored Treg homeostasis. The characterization of Treg subsets, rather than an evaluation of the total Treg population, may lead to a deeper understanding of the Treg role in HIV infection and therapy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biotechnology, Diagnostics Department, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Serana
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biotechnology, Diagnostics Department, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiarini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quiros-Roldan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gotti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biotechnology, Diagnostics Department, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zanotti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biotechnology, Diagnostics Department, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sottini
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biotechnology, Diagnostics Department, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bertoli
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biotechnology, Diagnostics Department, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caimi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biotechnology, Diagnostics Department, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Imberti
keywords: HIV; combined antiretroviral therapy.; regulatory T cells