Mouse Models of HIV-Associated Atherosclerosis.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Cardiovascular Science
• Infectious Disease

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the primary global cause of mortality.
• People living with HIV (PLWH) face double the risk of CVD compared to HIV-negative individuals.
• Despite statin therapy and antiretroviral treatment (ART), PLWH exhibit persistent inflammation, a key driver of CVD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize atherosclerosis development and review mouse models for studying HIV-associated atherosclerosis.
• To highlight the limitations of current statin therapies in reducing CVD prevalence in PLWH.
• To emphasize the need for advanced methodologies in studying HIV-associated CVD.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on atherosclerosis pathogenesis and mouse models.
• Discussion of dietary and genetic manipulations used to create atheroprotective mouse models.
• Evaluation of integrating multi-omics, genetic engineering, and immune cell profiling in mouse models.

Main Results:

• Most mouse strains possess inherent atheroprotective mechanisms, necessitating tailored models for CVD research.
• HIV-associated atherosclerosis requires specialized mouse models that mimic human disease conditions.
• Advanced approaches like multi-omics and immune profiling enhance the study of CVD mechanisms in HIV.

Conclusions:

• Mouse models are essential for dissecting the complexities of atherosclerosis, particularly in the context of HIV.
• Integrating multi-omics, genetic manipulation, and immune profiling in mouse models offers powerful tools to study HIV-associated CVD.
• These advanced methods are vital for addressing knowledge gaps in the immune mechanisms underlying CVD in PLWH.