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Serum inflammation markers associated with altered brain white matter microstructure in people with HIV on
Antonio Spagnolo-Allende1, Rebecca Schnall2,3, Minghua Liu1
1Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 710 W 168Th Street, 6Th Floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Background:
Many studies have reported reduced brain white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) and increased mean diffusivity (MD) on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of people with HIV (PWH). Few, however, have linked individual blood inflammatory markers with white matter tract-specific FA and MD.
Methods:
PWH 50 years old or older from New York, NY, USA, were invited to a cross-sectional study. Demographic data, blood samples, and brain DTI were obtained. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to examine associations between biomarkers and white matter tract-specific FA and MD. All models included age, sex, race, ethnicity, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and viral load as control variables.
Results:
Seventy-two cases were analyzed. Mean age was 60 ± 6 years, 47% were women, 21% were Hispanic, and 78% were black. All had asymptomatic HIV infection and were on antiretroviral therapy. Eighty-nine percent had CD4 count >200 cell/mm3 and 78% were virally suppressed. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and macrophage inflammatory proteins (MIP) 1β and 1α were consistently associated with lower FA and higher MD across white matter tracts.
Conclusions:
Elevated serum VEGF, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β were associated with altered white matter microstructure. These blood biomarkers may help predict HIV-associated white matter damage.
Insights
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and macrophage inflammatory proteins (MIP) are linked to white matter changes in people with HIV (PWH). These blood markers may predict HIV-associated brain damage.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Biomarkers
- HIV Research
Background:
- People with HIV (PWH) often show reduced white matter integrity on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
- Few studies have connected specific blood inflammatory markers to white matter changes in PWH.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate associations between blood inflammatory markers and white matter microstructure in PWH.
- To identify potential biomarkers for predicting HIV-associated white matter damage.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of PWH aged 50+ in New York.
- Collected demographic data, blood samples, and brain DTI.
- Used LASSO regression to analyze associations between biomarkers and white matter tract FA and MD, controlling for covariates.
Main Results:
- Analyzed 72 PWH (mean age 60, 78% Black, 21% Hispanic, 47% women).
- All participants had asymptomatic HIV, were on ART, with CD4 >200 and 78% viral suppression.
- Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and macrophage inflammatory proteins (MIP) 1β and 1α were associated with lower FA and higher MD across white matter tracts.
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum VEGF, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β correlate with altered white matter microstructure in PWH.
- These inflammatory markers may serve as predictive biomarkers for HIV-associated white matter damage.
