Altered T Lymphocytes Mitochondrial Function and Inflammatory Factors of Peripheral Blood in HIV Patients With Mycobacterial Infection

Abstract

To characterise T-cell immunity and inflammatory profiles in HIV patients with mycobacterial co-infections. This study enrolled 41 HIV patients co-infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (HIV-TB, n = 27) or non-tuberculous mycobacteria (HIV-NTM, n = 14), along with 30 controls (20 HIV-monoinfected, 10 post-treatment) from a single centre. Flow cytometry quantified T-cell subsets (CD3 + CD4+, CD3 + CD8+, CD28+ subsets), mitochondrial parameters (mass [MM], low membrane potential [MMP-low%]) and cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2/4/6/10/17A, TNF-α). Co-infected groups showed reduced T-cell counts versus HIV-monoinfected controls (p < 0.05). Elevated MMP-low% in CD3 + CD4+/CD28+ T cells indicated mitochondrial dysfunction in co-infected patients (p < 0.05). HIV-TB patients exhibited higher CD3 + CD4+/CD28+/CD8+ T-cell MM than HIV-NTM (p < 0.05), while HIV-NTM demonstrated greater MMP-low% (p < 0.05). Proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-17A) inversely correlated with CD4+ counts and MM, but positively with CD8 + CD28+ MMP-low%. MMP-low% in CD3 + CD4 + CD28+ T cells and IL-2 differentiated IRIS/non-IRIS cases (p < 0.05), with combined AUC = 0.834 for IRIS prediction (p = 0.001). HIV/mycobacterial co-infection exacerbates T-cell depletion and mitochondrial dysfunction, with HIV-NTM showing more severe impairment. MMP-low% and IL-2 may serve as biomarkers for IRIS risk stratification.