Associations Between Plasma Immunomodulatory and Inflammatory Mediators With VACS Index Scores Among Older HIV-Infected Adults on Antiretroviral Therapy.

TitleAssociations Between Plasma Immunomodulatory and Inflammatory Mediators With VACS Index Scores Among Older HIV-Infected Adults on Antiretroviral Therapy.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsPremeaux TA, Javandel S, Hosaka KRJ, Greene M, Therrien N, Allen IE, Corley MJ, Valcour VG, Ndhlovu LC
JournalFront Immunol
Volume11
Pagination1321
Date Published2020
ISSN1664-3224
KeywordsAged, Aging, Anti-Retroviral Agents, Biomarkers, Cohort Studies, Cystatin C, Cytokines, Female, Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products, Galectins, HIV, HIV Infections, Humans, Inflammation Mediators, Male, Membrane Proteins, Middle Aged, Neopterin, RNA, Viral, Veterans
Abstract

The prevalence of age-related comorbidities is increased in people living with HIV, even in those well-controlled on combination antiretroviral therapy (ART). Persistent immune activation and inflammation may play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis; however, the burden of morbidities in the older HIV infected population may be exacerbated and driven by distinct mechanisms. In a cross sectional study of 45 HIV-infected participants 60 years or older, we examined the relationships between 14 immunomodulatory and inflammatory factors and the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) Index, a metric of multimorbidity and mortality comprised of age, CD4 count, hemoglobin, Fibrosis-4 [FIB-4], and estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], by linear regression analysis. All participants were virally suppressed (<50 HIV RNA copies/mL), on ART, and primarily Caucasian (86.7%), and male (91.1%). Plasma levels of monocyte/macrophage-associated (neopterin, IP-10, sCD163, sCD14, and MCP-1) and glycan-binding immunomodulatory factors (galectin (Gal)-1, Gal-3, and Gal-9) were assessed, as well as inflammatory biomarkers previously linked to the VACS Index (i.e., CRP, cystatin C, TNF-α, TNFRI, IL-6, and D-dimer) for comparison. In regression analysis, higher VACS index scores were associated with higher levels of neopterin, cystatin C, TNFRI, and Gal-9 (all p < 0.05), potentially driven by correlations found with individual VACS components, including age, CD4 count, FIB-4, and eGFR. Gal-9, cystatin C, and TNFRI directly correlated with the extent of multimorbidity. Multiple correlations among markers were observed, suggesting an interplay of overlapping, but distinct, pathways. Collectively, in addition to cystatin C and TNFRI, both galectin-9 and neopterin, independently emerged as novel fluid markers of the VACS Index and burden of comorbidity and may further guide in understanding pathogenic mechanisms of age-related disorders in older HIV-infected individuals on suppressive ART.

DOI10.3389/fimmu.2020.01321
Alternate JournalFront Immunol
PubMed ID32695109
PubMed Central IDPMC7338430
Grant ListU24 AA021697 / AA / NIAAA NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH113406 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
K01 HL140271 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
P20 GM103466 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01 NR015223 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States
K24 MH098759 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
P30 AI027763 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
K76 AG064545 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States