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Calprotectin Levels in HIV-Infected Patients: Correlations With Disease Progression and Intestinal Inflammation
Huiyun Fan1, Zhongyun Deng2, Yong Qing3
1Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Leshan, Leshan, China, leshan-hospital.com.
Insights
Calprotectin, a key inflammatory marker, is elevated in HIV patients, indicating intestinal inflammation and immune dysfunction. Noninvasive serum and fecal tests can monitor disease progression and guide treatment.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Persistent intestinal inflammation is a challenge in HIV patients despite antiretroviral therapy (ART).
- Calprotectin (S100A8/A9) is a potential biomarker for inflammatory disorders, but its role in HIV-related gut inflammation requires further study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of calprotectin as a biomarker for intestinal inflammation in HIV-infected individuals.
- To correlate calprotectin levels with disease severity and immune status (CD4+ T-cell counts).
Main Methods:
- Recruited HIV-infected patients (AIDS-stage and asymptomatic) and healthy controls.
- Collected serum, fecal samples, and colonic biopsies for calprotectin analysis (ELISA, immunohistochemistry, Western blot).
- Assessed intestinal inflammation via histology and correlated calprotectin levels with CD4+ T-cell counts.
Main Results:
- Serum and fecal calprotectin levels were significantly higher in HIV-infected groups, especially in AIDS-stage patients.
- Intestinal inflammation severity positively correlated with S100A8/A9 protein expression.
- Calprotectin levels showed a strong inverse correlation with CD4+ T-cell counts and significant correlations across serum, feces, and mucosal tissues.
Conclusions:
- Calprotectin is a sensitive biomarker for intestinal inflammation and immune dysfunction in HIV.
- Noninvasive serum and fecal calprotectin assays can reliably assess disease status and guide clinical management in HIV patients.
Background:
Persistent intestinal inflammation remains a significant concern in HIV-infected patients despite effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). Calprotectin (S100A8/A9), a calcium-binding protein complex involved in inflammatory signaling, has emerged as a potential biomarker in various inflammatory disorders; however, its role in HIV-related intestinal inflammation has not been extensively studied.
Methods:
This study recruited 15 AIDS-stage patients, 15 asymptomatic HIV-infected patients, and 10 healthy controls from Chengdu Anal and Intestinal Specialized Hospital between April and August 2023. Serum, fecal samples, and colonic mucosal biopsies were collected. Calprotectin expression was quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis. Histopathological evaluation was performed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Statistical correlations between calprotectin levels and clinical indicators, including CD4+ T-cell counts, were analyzed.
Results:
Serum and fecal calprotectin concentrations were significantly elevated in HIV-infected groups compared with controls, with the highest levels observed in AIDS-stage patients (p < 0.05). Colonic mucosal inflammation severity correlated positively with S100A8/A9 protein expression (p < 0.05). Calprotectin expression inversely correlated with CD4+ T-cell counts (serum: r = -0.509; feces: r = -0.520, both p < 0.001). Strong correlations were observed between calprotectin expression in serum, feces, and intestinal mucosal tissues.
Conclusions:
Calprotectin serves as a sensitive biomarker reflecting intestinal inflammation severity and immune dysfunction in HIV-infected individuals. Serum and fecal calprotectin assays offer noninvasive, reliable methods for evaluating disease progression and inflammatory status and potentially guiding clinical management in HIV.
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