Figure 1.
Low expression of FOXP3 in LT from HIVnp and SIVnp. (A-C) Photomicrograph of FOXP3 protein–expressing cells (brown) in LT from a representative HIVprog (n = 6) (A), HIVnp (n = 5) (B), and uninfected individual (n = 5) (C). Cell nuclei were counterstained in blue; the micron bar in bottom right corner indicates 20 μm. Images were acquired using a Leica DMR-X microscope coupled to a Leica DC500 digital camera (Leica, Wetzlar, Germany), using the image analysis system Quantimet Q550 (Leica Imaging Systems, Cambridge, United Kingdom). The image was acquired using a 40×/0.75 numerical aperture (NA) oil objective. The staining reactions were developed using diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride and hematoxylin. (D) FOXP3 mRNA expression was significantly decreased in LT of HIVnp. Results are expressed in RU after normalization on CD4 mRNA. Similar results were obtained when FOXP3 was normalized on GAPDH expression (P = .004, not shown). Horizontal bars within boxes correspond to the median; box limits correspond to the 25th and 75th percentiles; vertical lines indicate range. (E) Median FOXP3 mRNA expression was decreased in LT from 7 SIVnps, compared with that in 7 SIVprogs. Results are expressed in RU after normalization on CD4 mRNA. (F) Percentages of CD69+ and FoxP3+ cells were not correlated in LT of HIV-infected individuals (r = 0.012, P = .98; Spearman correlation).