Effects of probiotics on T-cells activation in patients with CD4 count less than 250 cells/μl.

<p>Longitudinal assessment of CD38 and HLA-DR markers and their simultaneous expression on CD4 T cells in peripheral blood. in patients with a CD4 count less than 250 cells/μl at HIV infection diagnosis. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.</p

IL-6, nadir and immune activation at baseline.

<p>IL-6 levels at T0 were inversely correlated to CD4-Nadir (A) and CD4% (B), and positively correlated with the frequencies of activated, CD4+CD38+ T-cells (C). P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant; r represents correlation coefficient.</p

The CONSORT flow diagram of the clinical trial.

<p>Experimental design of the study.</p

Demographic, immunological and virological characteristics of the 20 HIV-infected patients and 11 controls included in the study.

<p>Demographic, immunological and virological characteristics of the 20 HIV-infected patients and 11 controls included in the study.</p

HsCRP plasma levels.

<p>High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) distribution in patients before (T0), and after probiotics’ assumption (T1) compared with controls Horizontal bars in the scatter plot represent mean value with SD. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.</p

Levels of immune activation according to the age on CD4+ T-cells.

<p>Extent of expression and co-expression of activation markers CD38 and HLA-DR on CD4+ T-lymphocytes before (T0) and after probiotics’ intake (T1) in patients with less (A) and more (B) than 55 years. Horizontal bars in the scatter plot represent mean value with SD. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.</p

Immune activation on T-lymphocytes.

<p>Longitudinal assessment of activation markers(CD38+HLA-DR+) on CD4+ cells (A) and on CD8+cells (B)before (T0) and after (T1) probiotic diet supplementation. Control group was added for comparison. Horizontal bars in the scatter plot represent mean value with SD. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.</p

Immune activation markers’ mean values, standard deviations and paired T-test p-values according to the age of patients.

<p>Immune activation markers’ mean values, standard deviations and paired T-test p-values according to the age of patients.</p

Patients and Controls’ CD4 and CD8 immune activation markers’ mean values, standard deviations and T-test p-values.

<p>Patients and Controls’ CD4 and CD8 immune activation markers’ mean values, standard deviations and T-test p-values.</p

Plasma levels of sCD14, d-dimer and LBP.

<p>Scatter plots of sCD14 (A), d-dimer (B) and Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein (LBP)(C) in patients before (T0) and after probiotics’ intake (T1) compared with controls. Horizontal bars in the scatter plot represent mean value with SD. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.</p