Immune activation, immunosenescence, and osteoprotegerin as markers of endothelial dysfunction in subclinical HIV-associated atherosclerosis.

Abstract

HIV-infected patients have a significantly greater risk of cardiovascular disease. Several markers including osteoprotegerin have been shown to be involved in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. We investigated the relationship between T-cell phenotype, osteoprotegerin, and atherosclerosis evaluated by carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT) in 94 HIV+ patients on suppressive antiretroviral therapy with Framingham score <10%. As for the control group, 24 HIV-negative subjects were enrolled. c-IMT was assessed by ultrasound. CD4+/CD8+ T-cell activation (CD38+ HLADR+) and senescence (CD57+ CD28-) were measured by flow cytometry. IL-6 and OPG levels were measured by ELISA kit. c-IMT was higher in HIV+ than in controls. Among HIV+ patients, 44.7% had pathological c-IMT (≥0.9 mm). CD8+ T-cell activation and senescence and OPG plasma levels were higher in HIV+ patients than in controls. Subjects with pathological c-IMT exhibited higher CD8+ immune activation and immunosenescence and OPG levels than subjects with normal c-IMT. Multivariate analysis showed that age, CD8+ CD38+ HLADR+, and CD8+ CD28- CD57+ were independently associated with pathological c-IMT. Several factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in HIV patients. Immune activation and immunosenescence of CD8+ T cell together with OPG plasma levels might be associated with the development and progression of early atherosclerosis, even in the case of viral suppression.

• Authors: Alessandra D'Abramo, Maria Antonella Zingaropoli, Alessandra Oliva, Claudia D'Agostino, Samir Al Moghazi, Giulia De Luca, Marco Iannetta, Claudio Maria Mastroianni, Vincenzo Vullo
• Journal: Mediators of inflammation (Mediators Inflamm) Vol. 2014 Pg. 192594 ( 2014) ISSN: 1466-1861 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25374442 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-HIV Agents
• Biomarkers
• IL6 protein, human
• Interleukin-6
• Osteoprotegerin
• TNFRSF11B protein, human

Topics

• Adult
• Anti-HIV Agents (therapeutic use)
• Atherosclerosis (etiology, immunology)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
• Case-Control Studies
• Cellular Senescence (immunology)
• Disease Progression
• Female
• HIV Infections (complications, drug therapy, immunology)
• Humans
• Interleukin-6 (blood)
• Lymphocyte Activation
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Osteoprotegerin (blood)