Oxidative stress, microparticles, and E-selectin do not depend on HIV suppression

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Gerontology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Oxidative stress and inflammation are linked to aging and age-related diseases.
• Investigating these markers in people with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) aims to understand premature immunosenescence.
• This study explores potential predispositions to early-onset age-related conditions in individuals with HIV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial activation markers in people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy.
• To determine if these markers indicate an immunosenescent phenotype in HIV-positive individuals.
• To explore the relationship between these markers and age-related disease development.

Main Methods:

• Study included 213 people with HIV and HIV-negative controls.
• Measured oxidative stress via malondialdehyde (MDA) using thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) assay.
• Assessed inflammation and endothelial activation using microparticle and E-selectin levels.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher TBARS, microparticle, and E-selectin levels were observed in people with HIV compared to controls (P<0.001).
• No significant differences in these marker levels were found between treated and untreated HIV groups.
• No significant correlations were found between these markers and CD4+ count, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, or HIV-1 RNA levels.

Conclusions:

• Elevated oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial activation markers in people with HIV are independent of virologic and immunologic status.
• These findings support the role of residual viremia in cellular reservoirs in premature immune aging.
• This suggests a predisposition to early-onset age-related diseases in people with HIV.