Expression of breast cancer resistance protein in peripheral T cell subsets from HIV-1-infected patients with antiretroviral therapy.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) in peripheral T cell subsets of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients, and to analyze the association between the levels of BCRP expression and disease progression in HIV-1 infection. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from HIV-1-infected patients (n=118), including 92 patients with antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 26 patients without a history of ART. Control samples from 30 healthy donors were also analyzed. The expression levels of BCRP in T cells were evaluated by flow cytometry. A high inter-individual variability was observed in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in the HIV-1-infected patients and healthy donors; however, the analyzed expression levels of BCRP were significantly higher in the HIV-1-infected group with ART than those in the group with no history of ART (P<0.01). Furthermore, the frequency of BCRP-expressing T cells was inversely correlated with CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell counts in HIV-1-infected patients with ART. The results suggested that BCRP expression varied among HIV-1-infected patients and healthy donors but was significantly higher in HIV-1 patients undergoing ART. In conclusion, the present study suggested that overexpression of BCRP may be involved in disease progression of the HIV-1 infection and may participate in drug resistance to ART, thus contributing to the failure of highly active ART in HIV-1 therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]