Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
Monitoring Changes in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells upon Viral Infection Using Impedance-Based Real-Time Cell Analysis
Published on: May 5, 2023
Biomarkers of vascular dysfunction in children infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1
Tracie L Miller1, Gabriel Somarriba, E John Orav
1Division of Pediatric Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
Insights
HIV-infected children show increased vascular dysfunction biomarkers compared to healthy peers. Higher waist-to-hip ratio and HIV severity are linked to these markers, indicating potential cardiovascular risks.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Vascular dysfunction is a concern in HIV-infected children.
- Understanding associated risk factors is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare vascular dysfunction biomarkers between HIV-infected and uninfected children.
- To identify factors associated with vascular dysfunction in HIV-infected children.
Main Methods:
- Measured biomarkers of inflammation (CRP, IL-6, MCP-1), coagulation (fibrinogen, P-selectin), endothelial dysfunction (sICAM, sVCAM, E-selectin), and metabolic dysfunction (leptin).
- Collected data on anthropometry, body composition, CD4%, HIV viral load, and antiretroviral therapy.
- Compared biomarker levels between 106 HIV-infected and 55 control children.
Main Results:
- HIV-infected children exhibited higher levels of sICAM, sVCAM, MCP-1, IL-6, and fibrinogen.
- Waist-to-hip ratio increases correlated with higher sICAM, MCP-1, IL-6, and CRP.
- Lower CD4% was associated with increased sVCAM, MCP-1, IL-6, fibrinogen, and CRP.
Conclusions:
- HIV-infected children demonstrate elevated vascular dysfunction biomarkers.
- Increased waist-to-hip ratio and HIV disease severity are significant risk factors for vascular dysfunction in this population.
Background:
: We compared biomarkers of vascular dysfunction among HIV-infected children to a demographically similar group of uninfected children and determined factors associated with these biomarkers.
Methods And Results:
: We measured several biomarkers of vascular dysfunction: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein -1 (MCP-1) (inflammation); fibrinogen and P-selectin (coagulant dysfunction); soluble intracellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM), and E-selectin (endothelial dysfunction); and leptin (metabolic dysfunction). Anthropometry, body composition, CD4%, HIV viral load, and antiretroviral therapy were recorded. Mean age was 14.8 years (106 HIV-infected children) and 12.3 years (55 control children). Sex and body mass index Z scores were similar. Infected children had higher sICAM, sVCAM, MCP-1, IL-6, and fibrinogen levels. E-selectin (P = 0.07), and CRP (P = 0.08) trended to be greater in the HIV group, yet leptin and P-selectin were similar. In multivariable analyses in the HIV-infected children alone, each 1 standard deviation increase in waist to hip ratio was associated with increases in sICAM (17%), MCP-1 (19%), IL6 (18%), and CRP (59%). CD4% was inversely associated with sVCAM, MCP-1, IL6, fibrinogen, and CRP.
Conclusions:
: HIV-infected children have higher levels of biomarkers of vascular dysfunction than healthy children. Risk factors associated with these biomarkers include higher waist to hip ratios and HIV disease severity.
