Characteristics of peripheral regulatory T cells in HIV-infected long-term non-progressors with antiretroviral therapy: a comparison study

  Objective  To explore differences in phenotypes and functions of peripheral regulatory T cells (Tregs) between long-term non-progressors (LTNPs) and progressors with antiretroviral therapy (ART) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

  Methods   From the database on HIV/AIDS patients registered in Yining city, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region during 2011, we recruited 38 LTNPs with ART and surviving until December 1, 2019 and 38 alive progressors (1 : 1 matched by age and ART duration to the LTNPs) with ART were also selected as the controls. The ratio of Treg cells in CD4/CD25/CD127/foxp3/CD69/CD39 subgroups were detected with flow cytometry (FCM); the expressions of Tregs cytokines and chemokines were detected and evaluated with cytometric bead array (CBA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

  Results   The ratio of CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ Tregs and CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127-FoxP3⁺ Tregs were significantly higher in the LTNPs than in the progressors. Higher expressions of Tregs cytokines (including transforming growth factor-β, interleukin-10, interleukin -35, interleukin-6, and interferon-γ) and chemokine c-c-motif ligand 17/ligand 21 were detected in the LTNPs compared to those in the progressors.

  Conclusion   The proportion of peripheral Tregs is higher and the Tregs are of higher immunosuppression activity among HIV-infected long-term non-progressors with antiretroviral therapy.