Systemic inflammation and compromised intestinal barrier during successful treatment of HIV infection

Abstract

The relationship between immunity disorders, destruction of intestinal barrier and development of systemic inflammation during antiviral therapy in patients with HIV infection is a topical issue in terms of suppression of virus replication and reduction of its role in the pathological process. Blood of HIV-infected patients given antiretroviral therapy (n = 21) and non-infected volunteers (n = 20). Identification of cells among CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes expressing markers of activation (CD38, HLA-DR), depletion (PD-1), and interleukin (IL) 7 receptor (CD127); measurement of blood levels of IL-6, neopterin, soluble CD14 (sCD14), intestinal fatty acid-binding peptide (I-FABP), and bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Correlation analysis of the dependence between cell immunity and systemic inflammation was performed. HIV-infected patients had more activated CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes and CD4⁺ T-cells expressing PD-1 marker than non-infected subjects but less CD4⁺ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes expressing CD127. Blood IL-6, neopterin, soluble CD14, I-FABP and bacterial lipopolysaccharide levels in the former were higher than in the latter HIV-infected patients showed significant correlation of cell immunity parameters with blood neopterin and FABP levels. The process of activation, depletion, and regeneration of T-lymphocytes in. HIV infection are related to the destruction of intestinal barrier and systemic macrophage activation.