Frailty, markers of immune activation and oxidative stress in HIV infected elderly

Abstract

People living with HIV-1 experience an accelerated aging due to the persistent and chronic activation of the immune system. This phenomenon conduces to immune exhaustion and precipitate immunosenescence. In general, frailty is defined as a syndrome of physiological degeneration in the elderly. Circulating naïve and memory T cells were studied by flow cytometry in non-frail and frail HIV-1-infected groups. Thymopoiesis, cell activation, senescence and cell proliferation were analyzed by CD31, HLA-DR/CD38, CD28/CD57 and Ki-67 expression, respectively. Plasma levels of sCD14 and MDA were measured by ELISA. Frail infected individuals showed a reduced number of memory T cells, both CD4 + and CD8 + populations. Activated CD3 + CD4 + HLA-DR + T cells were lower in frail individuals, and directly correlated with CD3 + CD8 + HLA-DR + and CD8 M cells. Senescent CD8 + CD28 − CD57 + cells were reduced in frail HIV-1 infected individuals and inversely correlated with CD8 RTE , CD8 N and CD3 + CD4 + HLA-DR +. Higher plasma levels of sCD14 and MDA were found in HIV-1 infected frail individuals. Our data show association among frailty, markers of immune activation and oxidative stress. Understanding the immune mechanisms underlying frailty status in HIV-1 population is of high relevance not only for the prediction of continuing longevity but also for the identification of potential strategies for the elderly.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of people living with HIV hospitalized with COVID-19: a nationwide experience

“…Over a half of our patients from the PLHIV cohort had at least one comorbidity, which is high considering the low average age of our patients. This finding has been described previously 8,9 and may be related to the known premature aging and frailty 23 that HIV infection produces, leading to the development of comorbidities at younger ages.…”

Plasma Levels of Interleukin-6 and the Cluster of Differentiation 4/Cluster of Differentiation 8 Ratio in Frailty among Community-dwelling Older People

“…Furthermore, a 2005 study found a significantly increased number of CD8+ T lymphocytes and CD8+CD28− lymphocytes in frail women versus pre-frail and non-frail women (Semba et al, 2005). A Spain study in the frail group concluded that the frequency of CD8+CD28−CD57+ was significantly elevated in comparison with the non-frail group [35], [36]. Some conditions also cause reduced CD4/CD8 ratio.…”

Frailty in Adults With HIV: Identification, Assessment, and Management

“…The primary drivers of frailty are due to dysregulation of stress responses that result in alterations of the endocrine, immune, and inflammatory systems. 3,14 Among persons who have been identified as frail, levels of hormones, such as growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor, sex steroids, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, are decreased. 3 Alterations in these hormones can lead to decreases in muscle mass, strength, and mobility.…”