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