He Yan, Li Jing, Zheng Yuhuang, Luo Yan, Zhou Huaying, Yao Yunhai, Chen Xia, Chen Zi, He Mei
Infectious Disease and AIDS Research Center, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2012 Apr;28(4):339-45. doi: 10.1089/AID.2011.0140. Epub 2011 Aug 30.
Our objective was to dynamically observe changes in peripheral blood Th17, Treg cells, and interleukin (IL)-17 levels in HIV-1/AIDS patients before and after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The study design consisted of a randomized case-controlled study. A total of 33 HIV-1/AIDS patients were chosen to receive a HAART regimen and 30 healthy volunteers were assigned as controls. Peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells were measured by flow cytometry before or 6 and 12 months after HAART therapy. The plasma IL-17 level was determined by ELISA. The percentage of Th17 cells to total CD4(+) cells was 1.2 ± 0.37% in HIV/AIDS patients before treatment, which was significantly lower than that in uninfected controls (4.7 ± 1.43%). After HAART therapy for 6 or 12 months, the Th17 percentage increased to 2.5 ± 1.03% and 3.7±1.56%, respectively. The percentage of Treg cells to CD4(+) cells is 9.16 ± 3.33% in HIV/AIDS patients, which was significantly elevated compared to controls (4.43 ± 0.97%). HAART therapy for 6 and 12 months significantly decreased Treg cell percentage (7.19 ± 2.91% and 5.53 ± 1.88%, respectively). Interestingly, the ratio of Th17/Treg cells was significantly decreased in HIV/AIDS patients before treatment, while HAART treatment partially normalized the Th17/Treg ratio. IL-17 levels were 5.3 ± 2.5 and 17.7 ± 6.60 pg/ml in HIV/AIDS patients and controls, respectively; the HAART regimen increased the IL-17 level to 7.7 ± 2.4 and 10.4 ± 3.1 pg/ml at 6 and 12 months, respectively. The percentage of Th17 cells correlated with IL-17 level, but both negatively correlated with viral load before treatment, whereas the percentage of Treg cells positively correlated with viral load before HAART therapy. The imbalance of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AIDS. HAART can restore the balance of Th17 and Treg cells as well as the IL-17 level, which may gradually rebuild the immune equilibrium in HIV/AIDS patients.
我们的目的是动态观察高效抗逆转录病毒治疗（HAART）前后HIV-1/AIDS患者外周血Th17、调节性T细胞（Treg）及白细胞介素（IL）-17水平的变化。研究设计为随机病例对照研究。共选取33例HIV-1/AIDS患者接受HAART方案治疗，并将30名健康志愿者作为对照。在HAART治疗前、治疗后6个月和12个月，通过流式细胞术检测外周血Th17和Treg细胞。采用酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）测定血浆IL-17水平。HIV/AIDS患者治疗前Th17细胞占总CD4(+)细胞的百分比为1.2±0.37%，显著低于未感染对照组（4.7±1.43%）。HAART治疗6个月和12个月后，Th17百分比分别升至2.5±1.03%和3.7±1.56%。HIV/AIDS患者中Treg细胞占CD4(+)细胞的百分比为9.16±3.33%，与对照组（4.43±0.97%）相比显著升高。HAART治疗6个月和12个月后，Treg细胞百分比显著降低（分别为7.19±2.91%和5.53±1.88%）。有趣的是，HIV/AIDS患者治疗前Th17/Treg细胞比值显著降低，而HAART治疗使Th17/Treg比值部分恢复正常。HIV/AIDS患者和对照组的IL-17水平分别为5.3±2.5和17.7±6.60 pg/ml；HAART方案在6个月和12个月时分别将IL-17水平提高至7.7±2.4和10.4±3.1 pg/ml。Th17细胞百分比与IL-17水平相关，但二者在治疗前均与病毒载量呈负相关，而Treg细胞百分比在HAART治疗前与病毒载量呈正相关。外周血Th17和Treg细胞失衡可能在AIDS发病机制中起关键作用。HAART可恢复Th17和Treg细胞平衡以及IL-17水平，这可能逐步重建HIV/AIDS患者的免疫平衡。
