Article
CD4+ CD25High Treg cells in HIV/HTLV Co-infected patients with neuropathy: high expression of Alpha4 integrin and lower expression of Foxp3 transcription factor
Registro en:
CHISSUMBA, Raquel Matavele; et al. CD4+ CD25High Treg cells in HIV/HTLV Co-infected patients with neuropathy: high expression of Alpha4 integrin and lower expression of Foxp3 transcription factor. BMC Immunology, v.16:52, 9p, 2015.
1471-2172
10.1186/s12865-015-0116-x
Autor
Chissumba, Raquel Matavele
Barbosa, Suse Dayse Silva
Augusto, Ângelo
Mauela, Cremildo
Mabunda, Nédio
Gudo Jr, Eduardo Sarno
Bhatt, Nilesh
Jani, Ilesh
Savino, Wilson
Resumen
Background: Regulatory CD4 T cells (Tregs) are critical in maintaining the homeostasis of the immune system.
Quantitative or phenotypic alterations and functional impairment of Tregs have been associated with the development
of pathologies including those of the central nervous system. Individuals with HIV-1/HTLV-1 co-infection are more
prone to develop neurological complications. The aim of this study was to characterize phenotypically Treg cells in
HIV-1/HTLV-1 co-infected Mozambican individuals presenting neurological symptoms.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV-infected individuals presentingneurological symptoms, with
and without HTLV co-infection, and blood donors. Peripheral bloodmononuclear cells were stained with monoclonal
antibodies conjugated with fluorochromes to quantifyTregs and activated T cells by four colors flow cytometry.
Results: Higher Treg cell frequency (10.6 %) was noted in HIV-1/HTLV-1 co-infected group with neurological
symptoms when compared to HIV-1 mono-infected group with neurological symptoms (0.38 %, p = 0.003) and
control group (0.9 %, p = 0.0105). An inverse correlation between Foxp3 and CD49d expression was observed
in all study groups (rh = −0.71, p = 0.001). In addition, increased levels of Treg cells in co-infected patients
were strongly associated with total activated CD4 T cells (rh = 0.8, p = 0.01).
Conclusion: Treg cells in co-infected patients present phenotypic alterations and might have dysfunction marked by
low expression of Foxp3 and increased expression of molecules not frequently seen on Treg cells, such as CD49d.
These alterations may be related to (1) changes in Treg cell trafficking and migration, possibly making those cells
susceptible to HIV infection, and (2) inability to control the activation and proliferation of effector T lymphocytes.