Our analysis demonstrated an increase of CD4+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) (p = 4.25e − 27) and decrease of CD8+ T cells (although the difference was not significant, p = 0.1374) from normal lung tissues to AIS/MIA and invasive ADC leading to significantly higher Treg/CD8 ratio in invasive ADC (p = 3.17e − 31) (Supplementary Fig. 12a–c). The gene discussed is CD4; the disease is AIDS dementia complex.