Regulatory T cells and Foxp3 levels in naïve and highly active antiretroviral therapy given HIV-1 infected patients

Abstract

Background & Objectives: The frequency and expression levels of FoxP3 in regulatory T-cells (T-regs) from advanced-stage HIV-infected patients are controversial. Thus, the aims of this study were to compare these parameters of T-regs from HIV infected patients and from healthy controls. Methods: T-reg population and expression levels of FoxP3 were assessed from 43 HIV-infected individuals and 12 healthy controls by using FACs flow cytometry. Results: Minor decrease in frequencies of T-regs was found in both infected groups (naïve and treated) compared with those from healthy controls (p=0.02, p=0.01, respectively). In contrast, a significantly increase in the ratios of T-regs:CD4+cells from HIV-infected patients was observed (p=0.001). In addition, FoxP3 expression levels in both treated and untreated HIV-1 infected patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (p<0.001 and 0.01 respectively). Interpretation & Conclusion: The decreased number of T-regulatory cells and the increased levels of FoxP3 in T-regs from HIV infected patients were associated with advanced stage of AIDS disease.