The immunological characteristics and clinical significance of TFC/TFH ratio in patients with chronic HIV-1 infection

ZHANG Heqian; LIU Yuanyuan; SHI Minfang; ZHANG Dawei

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1007-8134.2025.01.002

Abstract：Objective The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the follicular cytotoxic T cell(TFC)/follicular helper T cell(TEH)ratio and active HIV-1 replication as well as disease progression in patients with chronic HIV-1 infection,with the goal of evaluating the prognostic assessment and clinical significance of the TFC/TFH ratio in the progression of AIDS.Methods Sixty-six patients including 48 typical progressors who had not receive antiretroviral therapy(ART)as TP group,18 HIV-1 infected individuals who had received ART as ART group were enrolled in this study.Seventeen healthy controls were enrolled as HC group.The TFC/TFH ratio was measured,and its correlations with CD4+T cell counts and CD4/CD8 ratio were analyzed,Furthermore,its correlations with plasma HIV-1 RNA,cell-associated(CA)HIV-1 RNA and CA HIV-1 RNA/CA HIV-1 DNA ratio were examined in TP group.Results Compared with HC group,TFC/TFH ratio were significantly increased in TP group and ART group.The TFC/TFH ratio in the TP group was positively correlated with CD4+T cell counts(r=0.334,P=0.021)and CD4/CD8 ratio(r=0.376,P=0.008),and negatively correlated with plasma HIV-1 RNA(r=-0.324,P=0.009).Among them,11 cases tested for CA HIV-1 RNA and CA HIV-1 DNA,the TFC/TFH ratio in the TP group was negatively correlated with CA HIV-1 RNA(r=-0.672,P=0.024)and the ratio of CA HIV-1 RNA to HIV-1 DNA(r=-0.573,P=0.037).Compared with HC group,TFC/TFH ratio were significantly increased in lymphoid tissues biopsies of TP group and was negatively correlated with plasma HIV RNA(r=-0.904,P=0.004).Conclusion Increased expression of TFC/TFH ratio in the TP group associated with disease progression and also may be participate in HIV-1 active replication,suggesting its potential use as a biomarker for HIV-1 infected individuals.