Title:Regulatory T Cell Counts and Development of Malignancy in Patients with HIV Infection
VOLUME: 18 ISSUE: 3
Author(s):Marianna Politou, Sofia Boti, Theodoros Androutsakos*, Athanasios Kontos, Abraham Pouliakis, Violetta Kapsimali, George Panayiotakopoulos, Theodore Kordossis, Petros Karakitsos and Nikolaos V. Sipsas
Affiliation:Department of Pathophysiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Second Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Patras, Patras, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Department of Cytopathology-Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens
Keywords:HIV, cancer, lymphoma, t-regulatory cells, tregs, neoplasia.
Abstract:
Background: T-regulatory cells (Tregs) play an important role in maintaining homeostasis
by attenuating the cytokine response to T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation and by suppressing the
functioning of neighboring immune cells. In Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection,
Tregs can be either beneficial, by suppressing generalized T-cell activation, or detrimental, by suppressing
protective anti-HIV cell-mediated immunity. An imbalance of Tregs and effector T-cells
can blunt immune responses to malignant cells or facilitate inflammation-mediated pathologies.
Objective: The purpose of our study was to explore the possible correlation between Tregs’ concentration
and HIV infection’s parameters as well as the development of hematological and solid malignancies.
Methods: In a longitudinal prospective study, ex vivo phenotyping of fresh peripheral blood mononuclear
cells from patients with primary HIV infection was performed at baseline. All patients were
then followed up every 3 months and the development of solid or hematological malignancies was
noted.
Results: A total of 155 patients were included in the study and the median follow-up period was 64
months. Treg counts were significantly higher among males, patients with high viral load (>350
copies/ml) and patients with virological failure to antiretroviral treatment (ART). Linear regression
analysis showed a significant negative correlation between Treg levels and CD4 (+) T-cell counts.
Patients with neoplasia had lower levels of Tregs while increasing levels showed a negative correlation
with the development of neoplasia.
Conclusion: In our population of HIV-infected patients, high levels of Tregs were associated with
disease progression, and low baseline levels were associated with a higher probability of developing
neoplasia.
