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. 2021 Jul 26;13(14):18094-18105.
doi: 10.18632/aging.203350. Epub 2021 Jul 26.

Subclinical atherosclerosis and immune activation in young HIV-infected patients with telomere shortening

María José Alcaraz  1 , Antonia Alcaraz  1 , Raúl Teruel-Montoya  2 , José A Campillo  3 , Alejandro de la Torre  1 , Ángeles Muñoz  1 , Cristina Tomás  1 , Gabriel Puche  1 , Carlos Báguena  1 , Alfredo Cano  1 , Alfredo Minguela  1 , Enrique Bernal  1
Affiliations

Subclinical atherosclerosis and immune activation in young HIV-infected patients with telomere shortening

María José Alcaraz et al. Aging (Albany NY). .

Abstract

Background: To date, available data on premature aging in young HIV-infected adults are scarce and no reports offer comprehensive assessment of telomere shortening (TS) in relation to subclinical atherosclerosis (SCA). In this study, we investigate if telomere shortening and immune activation markers are associated with SCA, which is one of the main degenerative diseases in young HIV-infected adults.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 149 HIV-infected patients on stable antiretroviral regimen (ART). Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was estimated by carotid ultrasound. Quantitative singleplex PCR was performed to evaluate TS. The expression of activation/senescence markers was evaluated by multiparametric flow cytometry.

Results: TS was observed in 73 patients (49%). Higher cIMT was observed in patients with TS than those without it (0.86 vs. 0.80 mm; p=0.041). Patients under the age of 50 (defined as young adults) with TS showed higher absolute numbers of activated lymphocyte T cells CD8+CD38+ (3.94 vs. 2.34 cell/μl; p=0.07) and lymphocyte B cells CD19+CD38+ (3.07 vs. 2.10 cell/μl; p=0.004) compared to those without TS. In the multivariate analysis, the only factor independently associated with TS was the absolute number of lymphocyte T cells CD8+CD38+ T cells (OR = 1.18; 95%-CI = 1.00-1.39; p = 0.05).

Conclusion: Young HIV-infected adults show premature biological aging with accentuated immune activation. Chronic inflammation with excessive T-cells activation could be associated to TS, premature aging, and SCA in young HIV-infected adults.

Keywords: carotid intima-media thickness; immune activation/senescence; telomere shortening; young HIV-infected adults.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Frequency in total lymphocytes (%) in HIV-infected young adults with and without TS. Box-plots show the percentage of total and activated B and T lymphocytes: CD19+ B lymphocytes, CD19+ CD38+ activated B lymphocytes, CD4+ helper T lymphocytes, CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, CD8+ CD38+ activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) in HIV-infected young adults with and without TS. Box-plots show MFI of senescent and non-senescent activated B and T lymphocytes: CD38 in CD19+ activated B lymphocytes, CD38 in CD4+28+ Non-senescent activated helper T lymphocytes, CD38 in CD4+28- senescent activated helper T lymphocytes, CD38 in CD8+28+ Non-senescent activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes, CD38 in CD8+28- senescent activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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