Imbalance of T Helper and Regulatory Cells in Patients with Tuberculosis Co-infection Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Background: To ensure that patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV) and active tuberculosis(TB) co-infection (HIV-TB) can get timely treatment, we investigated T helper cells17 (Th17), Tregulatorycells(Treg) levels in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of the TB, HIV, HIVTB patients provide a better consult for prediction of HIV-TB patients. Methods: A total of 62 patients with TB, HIV, HIV-TB and 30 healthy peoples were included in our study. The PBMCs were isolated from the peripheral blood and the level of Th17 and Treg cells were tested by flow cytometry. Serum levels of cytokines Interleukin 17 (IL-17), Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Interleukin 10 (IL-10) were determined by ELISA. Results: Th17/Treg imbalance in HIV-TB patients, and is lower than HIV, TB and control group (Th17/Treg: 0.10±0.03 vs 0.25±0.08 vs 0.47±0.14 or 1.03±0.47, p<0.05). The expression of IL-10 in HIV-TB patients were significantly increased than HIV, T Band control groups, IL-17 and IL-6 were significantly decased (IL-10: 28.8±4.3 vs 23.6±3.6 vs 18.5±2.9 or 14.3±1.8pg/mL, p<0.05; IL- 17: 17.1±3.6 vs 24.2±4.2 vs 28.3±5.8 or 40.9±6.8pg/mL, p<0.05; IL-6: 15.9±2.1 vs 23.8±3.4 vs 27.8±4.3 or 32.5±4.6pg/mL, p<0.05). Conclusions: These studies revealed that Th17/Treg in HIV-TB patients was imbalanced, and suppressor T cell subsets are dominant, thus participate in immune pathogenesis of HIV-TB.