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- Title
The decrease of regulatory T cells correlates with excessive activation and apoptosis of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells in HIV-1-infected typical progressors, but not in long-term non-progressors.
- Authors
Yanmei Jiao; JunLiang Fu; Shaojun Xing; Baoyun Fu; Zheng Zhang; Ming Shi; Xicheng Wang; Jiyuan Zhang; Lei Jin; Fubiao Kang; Hao Wu; Fu-Sheng Wang
- Abstract
Persistent HIV infection results in a decrease in absolute counts of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg). To investigate the role of decreased Treg counts in the regulation of excessive activation and apoptosis of CD8+ T cells in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection, we characterized Treg in 83 HIV-1-infected individuals, including 19 long-term non-progressors (LTNPs) and 51 typical progressors (TPs) who were treatment-naïve, and 13 AIDS patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), of whom nine were complete responders (CRs) and the remaining four were non-responders (NRs) to the treatment. TPs but not LTNPs had a significant decrease in absolute counts of circulating Treg, which was inversely correlated with the activation and apoptosis of CD8+ T cells. Efficient HAART was found to increase Treg counts in CR patients and temper the excessive activation and apoptosis of CD8+ T cells. Moreover, isolated Treg significantly inhibited the spontaneous and anti-CD3-induced apoptosis of CD8+ T cells in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Thus, our findings indicate that the decrease in Treg closely correlates with the increase in apoptotic CD8+ T cells and disease progression in chronic HIV-1 infection, and that Treg may play a key role in maintaining the balance between the amount and quality of CD8+ T cells in HIV-1 infection. Manipulation of Treg function may be a promising strategy for immune therapy of this disease.
- Subjects
HIV infections; T cells; HIGHLY active antiretroviral therapy; HIV; APOPTOSIS; CELL death
- Publication
Immunology, 2009, Vol 128, Issue 1pt2, pe366
- ISSN
0019-2805
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2567.2008.02978.x