Objective: To observe the pathology of AIDS-related lymphadenopathy and its relationship to the expression and distribution of CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells in lymphoid node tissue.
Methods: Totally 22 biopsy and 13 autopsy lymphoid node tissues from HIV-positive patients were examined under microscopy and pathological staging was performed. Specific marker for CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells in lymphoid node tissue was detected with anti-Foxp3 monoclonal antibody by immunohistochemistry.
Results: Among all the 35 specimens, 5, 4, 14, and 12 specimens were histopathologically staged from 1 to 4, respectively. FoxP3 were detected in all lymphoid node tissues. The distribution of FoxP3-positive lymphocytes were mainly in intermediate zone of follicle and cortical area in stages 1 and 2. The counts of FoxP3-positive lymphocytes remarkably decreased in stages 3 and 4, following depletion of lymphocytes.
Conclusions: CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells exist in lymphoid node tissue of patients with HIV infection. Their amounts decrease or deplete along with the progression of AIDS-related lymphadenopathy.