Imaging atherosclerotic burden and inflammation: Insights into the spectrum of atherosclerotic disease in HIV

Inflammation of the periodontium associates with risk of future cardiovascular events

“…In humans, plaques at high‐risk for rupture present distinct features, including intense inflammation and oxidative stress, large areas of necrosis composed of apoptotic cells with thinning, and inflammation of the protective fibrous cap 34,35 . There are significant data to suggest that local inflammatory foci, particularly in the oral cavity, 14,36,37 can impact the systemic inflammatory burden 38,39 and may contribute to the risk for MACE. Animal studies strongly suggest that local periodontal inflammation is associated with an increase in the incidence of atherothrombosis 40–42 .…”

Insights into End-Organ Injury in HIV Infection

“…In HIV-infected humans and SIV-infected monkeys, the index of BrdU þ monocytes in blood (some of which are CD163 þ cells) and/or soluble CD163 (sCD163) are markers for the following: i) the speed of developing AIDS and the severity of tissue pathogenesis (macrophage inflammation, tissue damage, and number of multinucleated giant cells) 7 ; ii) the number of inflammatory macrophages in the CNS of infected monkeys; iii) the presence of noncalcified vulnerable cardiac plaques in HIV-infected individuals receiving durable ART and elite controllers 8 ; iv) the level of macrophage accumulation in the ascending aorta of HIV-infected humans and SIV-infected monkeys 9 ; and v) the level of neurocognitive deficits in HIV-infected patients receiving durable ART. 7 Consistently, Nowlin et al 3 demonstrate that the rate of recruitment of the CD163 þ macrophages to the CNS is increased with SIV infection, correlating with the rapid death.…”