Fig. 1

A decrease in mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells correlates with markers for disease progression, systemic T cell activation, microbial translocation, and gut mucosa damage in combined antiretroviral therapy (cART)-naive patients. a Representative FACS plots from one healthy control (HC), one elite controller (EC), one treatment-naive patient (TP) with CD4⁺ T cell count ≥ 350 cells/µl and another TP with CD4⁺ T cell count < 350 cells/µl showing MAIT cells (defined as CD161^highTCR Vα7.2⁺, gated on live, doublet-excluded CD3⁺ T cells). b Pooled data showing MAIT-cell percentages and absolute numbers from HCs (hollow circles, n = 33), ECs (diamonds, n = 14), TPs (solid circles, total n = 69: CD4⁺ T cell count ≥ 350 cells/µl subgroup, n = 34; CD4⁺ T cell count < 350 cells/µl subgroup, n = 35). c Correlation between MAIT-cell absolute numbers and percentages of CD38^highHLA-DR⁺-expressing CD4⁺ T cells (top panel) and CD38^highHLA-DR⁺-expressing CD8⁺ T cells (bottom panel) in TPs (n = 69). Plasma sCD14 levels (d, top panel) and I-FABP levels (e, top panel) in HCs (n = 33), ECs (n = 14) and TPs (n = 69). Correlation between MAIT-cell absolute numbers and plasma sCD14 levels (d, bottom panel) or I-FABP levels (e, bottom panel) in TPs (n = 69). f Pooled data showing the proportion of CD4⁺ MAIT cells in total MAIT cells in HIV-1 infected patients. g Correlation between plasma HIV-1 viral load and proportion of CD4⁺ MAIT cells in TPs (n = 69). h FACS plots showing MAIT cells and corresponding CD4⁺ subset from one EC before and after spontaneous loss of control of HIV-1 replication. Each symbol represents a single individual. Data are expressed as M (Q₁, Q₃). Mann–Whitney U test (b, d, e and f). Spearman’s correlation test (c, d, e and g). P-value and Spearman’s Rho value are shown. *P < 0.05, ^***P < 0.001, ^****P < 0.0001, ns non-signifcant. VL viral load, NA not available, TCR T-cell receptor, HLA human leukocyte antigen, sCD14 soluble CD14, I-FABP intestinal fatty acid-binding protein