To determine the corresponding expression of cellular and immune genes in ART-suppressed HIV/AIDS patients’ brains compared with uninfected patients, we examined CD68 (macrophage marker), CD3E (T cell marker), CD163, TNFA, IL6 and IL1B transcript levels; CD68 (Fig. 7f), CD3E (Fig. 7g) and CD163 (Additional file 4B) were increased in samples from Pt-2 compared to Pt-1 and uninfected controls. Here, TNF is linked to AIDS.