Table 3.
Summary of markers of peripheral CD4+ Treg cells and plasma cytokines in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients according to fibrosis/cirrhosis stage.
| Parameter | LSM < 12.5 kpa (0) | LSM 12.5–25 kpa (1) | LSM ≥ 25 Kpa (2) | p (0–1) | p (0–2) | p (1–2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD4+ T regulatory cells (%) | ||||||
| CD3+CD4+CD25+CD127−/low (Treg) | 8 (6.1; 10) | 8.5 (6.2; 10.8) | 7.7 (6.4; 9.7) | 0.573 | 0.549 | 0.327 |
| CD3+CD4+CD25+CD127−/lowCD45RA− (mTreg) | 11.1 (8.5; 13.7) | 11.1 (8.1; 14.2) | 9.8 (7.6; 12.8) | 0.965 | 0.095 | 0.207 |
| CD3+CD4+CD25+CD127−/lowCD45RA+ (rTreg) | 2.9 (2.2; 3.9) | 2.9 (1.7; 5.2) | 3.7 (2.5; 4.4) | 0.837 | 0.112 | 0.491 |
| Cytokines | ||||||
| IL-10 (pg/mL) | 1.5 (0.9; 3) | 1.2 (0.7; 2.2) | 1.4 (0.7; 2.6) | 0.076 | 0.410 | 0.383 |
| TGF-β1 (ng/mL) | 33 (15.8; 56) | 23.5 (12.2; 59.8) | 22.3 (10.5; 48.5) | 0.275 | 0.137 | 0.750 |
| IL-2 (pg/mL) | 3.6 (0.9; 7.9) | 1.5 (0.9; 5.7) | 2.7 (0.9; 3.6) | 0.078 | 0.039 | 0.800 |
| IFN-γ (pg/mL) | 10.5 (2.7; 34.5) | 6.6 (1.5; 15.2) | 12.4 (4.7; 28.3) | 0.071 | 0.833 | 0.041 |
| IL-12p70 (pg/mL) | 2.3 (1.4; 4.3) | 1.6 (0.9; 3) | 1.8 (1.1; 4) | 0.017 | 0.227 | 0.492 |
| TNF-α (pg/mL) | 3 (1.3; 6.2) | 1.7 (0.9; 4.9) | 1.1 (0.4; 3.2) | 0.043 | 0.003 | 0.341 |
| IL-4 (pg/mL) | 3.8 (1.7; 7.4) | 2.4 (1.5; 6) | 1.8 (1.1; 6.7) | 0.032 | 0.038 | 0.886 |
| IL-17A (pg/mL) | 1.7 (0.8; 3.8) | 0.9 (0.3; 2) | 0.7 (0.4; 2) | 0.008 | 0.003 | 0.620 |
Statistics: Values expressed as median (interquartile range). P-values were calculated by the Mann-Whitney test in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients stratified by LSM (<12.5 kPa, 12.5–25 kPa, and >25 kPa). Abbreviations: kPa, kilopascals; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HIV, human immunodeficiency; LSM, liver stiffness measure; CDXX, cluster of differentiation; TGF-β1, transforming growth factor beta 1; IFN-γ, Interferon gamma; IL-XX, interleukin; Treg cells, regulatory CD4+ T cells; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha.