Severe intestinal barrier damage in HIV-infected immunological non-responders

The intestinal epithelial barrier plays an important role during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression. However, the extent to which the intestinal epithelial barrier is damaged in immunological non-responders (INRs) and immunological responders (IRs) is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated and compared the levels of intestinal gland damage and related molecules, including the tight junction protein claudin-1, apoptosis marker caspase-3, HIV DNA, CD4⁺ T cell count, and inflammation marker tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) among the IRs (n = 10), INRs (n = 8), and healthy controls (HCs, n = 7). Intestinal damage was not completely restored in both INRs and IRs and was more serious in INRs than that in IRs. Moreover, intestinal damage was positively correlated with HIV DNA levels and negatively correlated with CD4⁺ T cell counts. These results provide insight into understanding the characteristics of intestinal epithelial barrier damage between IRs and INRs.