Fig. 9. HIV+ patients have skewed T_regDys/Th17 ratios and CD4⁺ T cell hyperactivation correlating with salivary putrescine in the oral mucosa.

Gingival mucosal cells from healthy controls (n = 19) and PLWH (n = 30) were processed for flow cytometry ex vivo. A, B Th17 cells were quantified by examining the expression of ROR-γt and CCR6 in CD4⁺ T cells. Contour plot (A), and statistical quantification (B), show Th17 proportions. The increase in T_regDys proportions and Th hyperactivation (CD38⁺HLADR⁺CD4⁺T cells) in this PLWH cohort were previously published⁴. C Statistical quantification of T_regDys /Th17 ratios as determined by flow cytometry analyses. D Statistical quantification of salivary putrescine using LC-MS in healthy controls (n = 11) and PLWH (n = 10) with known T_regDys /Th17 ratios as determined by flow cytometry analyses. Median values ± SEM are plotted. (Mann–Whitney U test ****P < 0.0001; **P = 0.007; Two-tailed in B and C. Circles within box plots represent each replicate. E Correlation between gingival T_regDys/Th17 ratios and salivary putrescine (n = 21) (left), and Correlation between gingival CD4 hyperactivation and salivary putrescine (n = 21)(right). P values from both correlation and regression analysis are provided.