ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the changes and clinical significance of helper T cells (Th)22,Th17,Th1 and regulatory T cells (Treg) in the peripheral blood before and after antiretroviral treatment (ART) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infected patients.Methods Forty HIV-infected patients were recruited into this study,and 30 healthy subjects were recruited as controls.Peripheral blood of the patients was collected at baseline and after 3 months of ART treatment.The frequencies of Th22,Th17,Th1 and Treg were detected by flow cytometry.Tests for homogeneity of variance and paired t test for comparison was adopted.Spearman rank test was used for correlation analysis.Results The frequencies of peripheral Th22,Th17,Th1 and Treg from HIV-infected patients before treatment were significantly decreased compared to the healthy controls ([0.59± 0.47] ％ vs [1.65 ± 0.56] ％ [t =8.544,P＜0.01],[4.46±1.84]％ vs [6.98±1.86]％[t=5.619,P＜0.01],and [16.75±6.72]％ vs [22.77±6.87]％; [t=5.311,P＜0.01].The frequencies of peripheral Th22 and Th17 after 3 months of treatment were significantly higher than those at baseline ([1.60± 1.10] ％ [t=5.268,P＜0.01] and [6.33±2.64]％ [t=3.663,P＜0.01] and no difference from those of healthy controls (t=1.783 and 1.143,respectively; both P＞0.05).However,the Th1 frequency showed no difference compared to the baseline.The frequency of Treg in the HIV infected patients was significantly increased compared with the healthy controls ([10.76±3.76]％ vs [7.01±1.88]％,t=5.003,P＜0.01).However,it gradually decreased along with the ART treatment ([9.22±2.56]％ after 2 months; [8.57± 2.36]％ after 3 months),which was still higher than that of healthy controls (t=2.984,P=0.004).The ratios of Th22/Treg,Th17/Treg and Th1/Treg of the HIV-infected patients were significantly decreased in comparison with the healthy controls (0.05±0.03 vs 0.25±0.10,t=11.69,P＜0.01; 0.46 ± 0.27 vs 1.07±0.42,t=7.728,P＜0.01; 1.56±0.89 vs 3.37± 1.02,t=7.052,P＜0.01),and those were significantly increased after 3 months of treatment (0.17±0.10[t=6.852,P＜0.01],0.81±0.46[t=4.253,P＜0.01] and 2.31±1.27[t=3.030,P＜0.01]).Correlation analysis showed that the ratio of Th17/Treg of the HIV-infected patients was positively correlated with the peripheral CD4+ T cell count (r=0.312 5,P=0.049 6),and negatively correlated with HIV RNA viral load (r=-0.474 7,P=0.002 0).The ratio of Th1/Treg of the HIV-infected patients was positively correlated with the peripheral CD4+ T cell count (r=0.333 5,P=0.035 5).Conclusions Th22,Th17,Th1 and Treg cells in the peripheral blood of HIV-infected patients are closely related to CD4+ T cell count.ART can partially recover immune imbalance,and help to rebuild immune function of HIV-infected patients.