C-reactive protein levels increase during HIV-1 disease progression in Rakai, Uganda, despite the absence of microbial translocation.
BACKGROUND
Microbial translocation has been implicated as a contributing factor to the heightened immune activation observed during HIV-1 disease progression. When examined in a longitudinal study of HIV-1 seroconverters in Rakai, Uganda, microbial translocation was not associated with HIV-1 disease progression. However, the role of general immune activation in HIV disease progression in this population was not fully examined.


METHODS
Longitudinal serum samples of HIV-1 seroconverters in three HIV-1 disease progression groups [long-term nonprogressors (LTNP), standard progressors (SP), and rapid progressors (RP)] from Rakai, Uganda, were tested for levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker for immune activation.


RESULTS
CRP levels significantly increased in the SP group (P < 0.0001) but not in the RP group or the LTNP group. CRP levels during the first year post-HIV seroconversion in the RP group were significantly higher than those observed in the LTNP group (P < 0.05). For the entire population, CRP levels negatively correlated with lipopolysaccharide levels (P < 0.05) and were not associated with endotoxin antibody levels.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that in this population, increased immune activation is significantly associated with HIV-1 disease progression but not microbial translocation.
Redd
Andrew D
AD
Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Eaton
Kevin P
KP
Kong
Xiangrong
X
Laeyendecker
Oliver
O
Lutalo
Tom
T
Wawer
Maria J
MJ
Gray
Ronald H
RH
Serwadda
David
D
Quinn
Thomas C
TC
D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D014454:Uganda
D002097:C-Reactive Protein
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