Normalization of FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells in response to effective antiretroviral therapy

J Infect Dis. 2011 Feb 15;203(4):496-9. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiq073. Epub 2010 Dec 21.

Abstract

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) blunt uncontrolled immune responses. In advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the total number of Tregs is decreased, but the proportion of T cells with a regulatory phenotype is highly variable. We studied CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T cells from patients successfully treated with combination antiretroviral therapy (ART). The proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) cells transiently increased and then decreased from a median of 13% at baseline to 5.1% at 48 weeks, similar to values in normal subjects. These data suggest that with effective therapy, the regulatory cell numbers normalize, and that the inflammatory signals driving their production may also abate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-HIV Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active*
  • CD4 Antigens / analysis
  • Female
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / analysis*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / analysis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / chemistry
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • CD4 Antigens
  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • IL2RA protein, human
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit