Persistent, Albeit reduced, chronic inflammation in persons starting antiretroviral therapy in acute HIV infection

Irini Sereti, Shelly J. Krebs, Nittaya Phanuphak, James L. Fletcher, Bonnie Slike, Suteeraporn Pinyakorn, Robert J. O'Connell, Adam Rupert, Nicolas Chomont, Victor Valcour, Jerome H. Kim, Merlin L. Robb, Nelson L. Michael, Daniel C. Douek, Jintanat Ananworanich, Netanya S. Utay

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

199 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. Serious non-AIDS events cause substantial disease and death despite human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) suppression with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Biomarkers of inflammation, coagulation cascade activation, and fibrosis predict these end-organ events. We aimed to determine whether ART initiation during acute HIV infection would attenuate changes in these biomarker levels. Methods. Plasma samples were obtained from participants starting ART during acute or chronic HIV infection and from HIVuninfected participants from Bangkok, Thailand. Biomarkers of inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin 6, soluble interleukin 6 receptor [sIL-6R], soluble gp130, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]), enterocyte turnover (intestinal fatty acid binding protein [I-FABP]), lipopolysaccharide-induced monocyte activation (soluble CD14 [sCD14]), coagulation cascade activation [D-dimer], and fibrosis (hyaluronic acid [HA]) were measured at baseline and through 96 weeks of ART. Results. CRP, TNF, sIL-6R, I-FABP, sCD14, D-dimer, and HA levels were elevated in acute HIV infection. Early ART was associated with increased I-FABP levels but normalization of TNF, sIL-6R, and D-dimer levels. CRP, sCD14, and HA levels decreased during ART but remained elevated compared with HIV-uninfected participants. Higher sCD14, CRP, and D-dimer levels were associated with higher peripheral blood mononuclear cell and gut integrated HIV DNA levels. Decreases in sCD14 and CRP levels were correlated with increases in CD4 T-cell counts. Conclusions. ART initiated in early acute HIV infection was associated with normalization of the coagulation cascade and several systemic inflammatory biomarkers, but the acute-phase response, enterocyte turnover, monocyte activation, and fibrosis biomarkers remained elevated. Additional interventions to attenuate inflammation may be needed to optimize clinical outcomes in persons with HIV infection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)124-131
Number of pages8
JournalClinical Infectious Diseases
Volume64
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 15 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Acute HIV infection
  • Antiretroviral therapy
  • Inflammation
  • Monocyte activation
  • Sil-6R

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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