TY - JOUR TI - Regulatory T cell counts and development of malignancy in patients with HIV infection AU - Politou, M. AU - Boti, S. AU - Androutsakos, T. AU - Kontos, A. AU - Pouliakis, A. AU - Kapsimali, V. AU - Panayiotakopoulos, G. AU - Kordossis, T. AU - Karakitsos, P. AU - Sipsas, N.V. JO - Current HIV Research PY - 2020 VL - 18 TODO - 3 SP - 201-209 PB - Bentham Science Publishers SN - 1570-162X TODO - 10.2174/1570162X18666200401122922 TODO - anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; CD3 antigen; interleukin 7 receptor; transcription factor FOXP3, acute HIV infection; adult; aged; antiretroviral therapy; Article; brain cancer; cancer survival; CD25+ T lymphocyte; CD4 CD8 ratio; CD4 lymphocyte count; CD4+ CD25+ T lymphocyte; CD8 lymphocyte count; cohort analysis; colorectal cancer; comparative study; controlled study; ex vivo study; female; follow up; hematologic malignancy; Hodgkin disease; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Kaposi sarcoma; lacrimal gland tumor; larynx cancer; longitudinal study; lung cancer; lymphocyte count; major clinical study; male; medication compliance; melanoma; middle aged; nonhodgkin lymphoma; patient compliance; peripheral blood mononuclear cell; peritoneum pseudomyxoma; prospective study; regulatory T lymphocyte; sex difference; solid malignant neoplasm; tongue cancer; treatment response; virus load; cellular immunity; cytotoxic T lymphocyte; disease exacerbation; drug effect; genetics; highly active antiretroviral therapy; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immunology; immunophenotyping; mortality; neoplasm; pathology; regulatory T lymphocyte; survival analysis; virology, Adult; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Disease Progression; Female; HIV; HIV Infections; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Immunophenotyping; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Prospective Studies; Survival Analysis; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Viral Load TODO - 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. © 2020 Bentham Science Publishers. ER -