The dynamics of α4β7high CD4+T cells during long-term ART and its relationship with immune reconstitution

MIJITI Zilaiguli; PAN Kejun; MA Haimei; ZHANG Bei; ABUDUKERIMU Zumulati

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1007-8134.2025.06.002

Abstract：Objective This study explores the characteristics of changes in α4β7high CD4+T cells in human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)infected individuals during antiretroviral therapy(ART)and reveals the potential significance of this cell subset in immune recovery.Methods Twenty-eight HIV-infected patients who were diagnosed at the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital and received ART for at least five years from 2012 to 2018 were selected as the research subjects.Peripheral venous blood samples were collected at baseline(before treatment)and at 1,3,and 5 years after treatment.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)were isolated from the samples by density gradient centrifugation.The absolute count of CD4+T cells,the absolute count of α4β7high CD4+T cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio were detected by flow cytometry.At the same time,the level of HIV DNA in PBMCs was quantitatively determined by fluorescence quantitative PCR technology.Data analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 8.0 software.Paired t-tests were used for comparisons between groups,and Pearson correlation tests were employed for correlation analysis.Results Data analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 8.0 software.Paired t-tests were used for comparisons between groups.During the ART 0-3 year period,the count of α4β7high CD4+T cells showed a significant upward trend(P<0.05),while it remained relatively stable during the ART 3-5 year period(P>0.05).The correlation analysis revealed that the dynamic changes in the absolute count of α4β7high CD4+T cells during the ART process were significantly positively correlated with the CD4+T cell count(r=0.890,P<0.0001)and the CD4/CD8 ratio(r=0.408,P<0.0001),and negatively correlated with the HIV DNA level(r=-0.285,P=0.021).Conclusion During ART,the changes of α4β7high CD4+T cell counts may play an important role in the immune recovery in HIV infected patients.