TY - JOUR

T1 - Regulatory T cells in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients are elevated and independent of immunological and virological status, as well as initiation of highly active anti-retroviral therapy

AU - Gaardbo, J.C.

AU - Nielsen, S.D.

AU - Vedel, S.J.

AU - Ersbøll, Annette Kjær

AU - Harritshøj, Lene Holm

AU - Ryder, Lars P.

AU - Nielsen, J.O.

AU - Kolte, J.

AU - Gaardbo, J C

AU - Nielsen, Susanne Dam

AU - Vedel, Signe Juul

AU - Ersbøll, A K

AU - Harritshøj, L

AU - Ryder, L P

AU - Nielsen, Jens Ole

AU - Kolte, Lilian

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes a dysregulation of the immune system. This is caused by HIV-specific as well as non-specific mechanisms and has not been explained fully. In particular, knowledge is lacking about the potential role of host-mediated immunosuppressive mechanisms. During recent years it has become evident that a subpopulation of T cells [T regulatory (T(regs))] play a major role in sustaining tolerance to self-antigens. To investigate the influence of initiation of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) on the T(reg) level in HIV-infected patients we have conducted a prospective study enrolling treatment-naive HIV-infected patients just prior to starting treatment with HAART, measuring levels of T(regs) by flow cytometry and mRNA expression of forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) at weeks 0, 4, 12 and 24 of treatment. In this prospective study neither the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(high+) nor the expression of FoxP3 changed significantly during 24 weeks of HAART. Furthermore, HIV patients have higher T(regs) measured as percentages of CD4(+)CD25(high+) cells paralleled by higher levels of FoxP3 compared with healthy controls. The elevated level of T(regs) was found to be independent of both immunological and virological status, indicating that initiation of HAART has minor effects on the T(reg) level in HIV-infected patients.

AB - Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes a dysregulation of the immune system. This is caused by HIV-specific as well as non-specific mechanisms and has not been explained fully. In particular, knowledge is lacking about the potential role of host-mediated immunosuppressive mechanisms. During recent years it has become evident that a subpopulation of T cells [T regulatory (T(regs))] play a major role in sustaining tolerance to self-antigens. To investigate the influence of initiation of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) on the T(reg) level in HIV-infected patients we have conducted a prospective study enrolling treatment-naive HIV-infected patients just prior to starting treatment with HAART, measuring levels of T(regs) by flow cytometry and mRNA expression of forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) at weeks 0, 4, 12 and 24 of treatment. In this prospective study neither the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(high+) nor the expression of FoxP3 changed significantly during 24 weeks of HAART. Furthermore, HIV patients have higher T(regs) measured as percentages of CD4(+)CD25(high+) cells paralleled by higher levels of FoxP3 compared with healthy controls. The elevated level of T(regs) was found to be independent of both immunological and virological status, indicating that initiation of HAART has minor effects on the T(reg) level in HIV-infected patients.

KW - Former LIFE faculty

KW - flow cytometry/FACS

KW - highly active anti-retroviral therapy

KW - HIV

KW - immune regulation

U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2008.03725.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2008.03725.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 18821942

VL - 154

SP - 80

EP - 86

JO - Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Supplement

JF - Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Supplement

SN - 0964-2536

IS - 1

ER -