Microbial translocation, the innate cytokine response, and HIV-1 disease progression in Africa

Abstract

Reports from the United States have demonstrated that elevated markers of microbial translocation from the gut may be found in chronic and advanced HIV-1 infection and are associated with an increase in immune activation. However, this phenomenon's role in HIV-1 disease in Africa is unknown. This study examined the longitudinal relationship between microbial translocation and circulating inflammatory cytokine responses in a cohort of people with varying rates of HIV-1 disease progression in Rakai, Uganda. Multiple markers for microbial translocation (lipopolysaccharide, endotoxin antibody, and sCD14) did not change significantly during HIV-1 disease progression. Moreover, circulating immunoreactive cytokine levels either decreased or remained virtually unchanged throughout disease progression. These data suggest that microbial translocation and its subsequent inflammatory immune response do not have a causal relationship with HIV-1 disease progression in Africa.

Immunovirological parameters and cytokines in HIV infection

“…Huang et al 47 observed that circulating myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) from elite controllers display increased antigen-presenting properties and release less inflammatory cytokines with regard to HIV-1-infected progressores. TNF-α levels were significantly increased in both the TyP and rapid progression groups compared with the LTNP group in a study release in naïve patients from Africa 48 . Differently from typical progressors, those patients that can naturally controlled the infection are able to maintain highly functional HIV-specific CD8+ T cells and the author highlighted that the quality from these cells is more important than quantity of them to a slower disease progression 49 .…”

Microbial Translocation in the Pathogenesis of HIV Infection and AIDS

“…For a cohort of HIV-infected individuals from Rakai, Uganda, who were monitored longitudinally from preinfection to death for levels of proinflammatory cytokines and microbial translocation, Redd et al failed to find significant associations between levels of LPS, sCD14, and endotoxin antibody and HIV disease progression (108). Moreover, circulating immunoreactive cytokine levels either decreased or remained virtually unchanged throughout the progression of the disease.…”

Influence of Common Mucosal Co‐Factors on HIV Infection in the Female Genital Tract

“…[37][38][39] HIV-1 infection is characterized by chronic systemic inflammation, seen by increased levels of serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and soluble CD14 (sCD14) in HIV-1-infected individuals. 37,[40][41][42][43][44] HIV-1 disease progression has been correlated with increased circulating levels of LPS, an indicator of microbial translocation, which is associated with mucosal barrier disruption. 43 The chronic immune activation associated with HIV disease is considered to be one of the main driving forces leading to immunodeficiency.…”