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Biological Aging and Immune Senescence in Children with Perinatally Acquired HIV

Annalisa Dalzini1, Maria Raffaella Petrara1, Giovanni Ballin1

  • 1Section of Oncology and Immunology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Unit of Viral Oncology and AIDS Reference Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.

Journal of Immunology Research
|June 9, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Children with chronic HIV experience premature aging due to ongoing inflammation and immune alterations, even with effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). This impacts their health and lifespan, necessitating a focus on immune senescence in HIV care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Aging Research

Background:

  • Chronic HIV infection in children triggers persistent inflammation via pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs).
  • Highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves HIV outcomes but does not fully restore T and B cell phenotypes in children.
  • HIV-infected children exhibit immune alterations, including increased activated, exhausted, and senescent cells, leading to accelerated telomere attrition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the impact of HIV infection and ART on immune and biological senescence in children.
  • To understand the mechanisms driving premature aging in pediatric HIV.
  • To highlight the long-term health consequences of HIV-related senescence.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing data on HIV, ART, and senescence in children.
  • Analysis of immune cell phenotypes and markers of biological aging.
  • Examination of inflammatory pathways and cytokine profiles.

Main Results:

  • HIV and ART contribute to immune activation, exhaustion, and senescence in pediatric populations.
  • Accelerated telomere attrition is observed in HIV-infected children, indicative of premature aging.
  • Premature aging manifests as comorbidities typically seen in older adults, including non-AIDS-related cancers.

Conclusions:

  • HIV-infected children undergo accelerated biological and immune aging, impacting quality and length of life.
  • Despite effective ART, immune normalization is incomplete, perpetuating senescence.
  • Addressing immune senescence is crucial for improving long-term health outcomes in pediatric HIV survivors.

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