Higher circulating intermediate monocytes are associated with cognitive function in women with HIV

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Identifying biomarkers for neuropsychiatric dysfunction in people with HIV (PWH) is crucial.
• Monocytes are implicated in HIV-related central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction.
• Previous studies have not investigated blood monocyte subsets as predictors of neuropsychiatric function in virally suppressed PWH.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between blood monocyte subsets and neuropsychiatric function in virologically suppressed women with HIV (vsWWH).
• To determine if monocyte subsets can serve as a predictive biomarker for cognitive outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Two independent cohorts of vsWWH (n=25 and n=18) were studied.
• Whole blood samples were analyzed using flow cytometry to assess immune cell subsets.
• Neuropsychiatric assessments included a cognitive test battery and symptom questionnaires.

Main Results:

• A higher proportion of intermediate monocytes (CD14+CD16+) was associated with lower global cognitive function, executive function, and processing speed.
• This association was observed both concurrently and predictively (1 year prior) to neuropsychiatric testing.
• Higher classical monocyte proportions correlated with better cognitive performance, while no associations were found with depression or stress symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Blood intermediate monocyte percentage is a potential blood-based biomarker for cognitive dysfunction in vsWWH.
• This finding offers a novel, easily measurable indicator for monitoring neuroHIV-related cognitive changes.
• Further research can validate these monocytes subsets as predictive biomarkers in neuroHIV.