Endothelin-1 immunoreactivity in plasma is elevated in HIV-1 infected patients with retinal microangiopathic syndrome.
Endothelin-1 is a recently identified cytokine with potent vasoconstrictor activity which is associated with various diseases involving blood vessels. HIV-1 related retinal microangiopathic syndrome is a frequent finding in patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex, presenting predominantly with retinal cotton-wool spots. We investigated 55 HIV-1 infected patients by ophthalmoscopy and for endothelin-1 immunoreactivity in plasma and an additional 76 HIV-1 infected patients only for endothelin-1 levels. For reference values 13 age-matched healthy subjects were studied. In 18 of 55 patients (33%) investigated ophthalmoscopically we found evidence of microangiopathic syndrome. Overall, the mean endothelin-1 immunoreactivity in plasma of HIV-1 infected patients was significantly elevated as compared to controls (4.28 +/- 3.62 versus 2.72 +/- 0.67 fmol/ml, P < 0.0001). HIV-1 infected patients with retinal microangiopathic syndrome had significantly higher plasma levels of endothelin-1 immunoreactivity (4.59 +/- 1.38 fmol/ml) compared to HIV-1 infected patients without microangiopathic syndrome (3.18 +/- 1.64 fmol/ml, P = 0.003). Correlation analysis revealed that endothelin-1 immunoreactivity in plasma had no significant association with disease progression, CD4 cell count, beta 2-microglobulin, neopterin, or age. Endothelin-1 immunoreactivity in plasma was correlated exclusively with retinal microangiopathic syndrome in one or both eyes (r = 0.45, P = 0.0006) and with the number of cotton-wool spots (r = 0.50, P = 0.0001). In conclusion, HIV-1 related retinal microangiopathic syndrome is associated with elevated plasma levels of endothelin-1. By virtue of its potent vasoconstrictor activity endothelin-1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 related vascular disease.
Rolinski
B
B
Medizinische Poliklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany.
Geier
S A
SA
Sadri
I
I
Klauss
V
V
Bogner
J R
JR
Ehrenreich
H
H
Goebel
F D
FD
D000328:Adult; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D013577:Syndrome
D016232:Endothelins