title: Immunologic predictors of coronary artery calcium progression in a contemporary HIV cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Identifying immunologic mechanisms that contribute to premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) among HIV-positive patients will inform prevention strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression was studied in an HIV cohort. Immunophenotypes were measured on baseline cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells using multicolor flow cytometry. Logistic regression identified predictors of CAC progression after adjusting for traditional and HIV-related risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline characteristics for the analysis cohort (n=436) were median age 42 years, median CD4 cell count 481 cells/μl, and 78% receiving antiretroviral therapy. Higher frequencies of CD16 monocytes were associated with greater likelihood of CAC progression, after adjusting for traditional and HIV risk factors [odds ratio per doubling was 1.66 for CD14/CD16 (P=0.02), 1.36 for CD14/CD16 (P=0.06), and 1.69 for CD14/CD16 (P=0.01)]. Associations for CD16 monocytes persisted when restricted to participants with viral suppression. We found no significant associations for CAC progression with other cellular phenotypes, including T-cell activation and senescence markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Circulating CD16 monocytes, potentially reflecting a more pro-atherogenic subpopulation, independently predicted greater CAC progression among HIV-infected persons at low risk for AIDS. In contrast to T-cell abnormalities classically associated with AIDS-related disease progression, these data highlight the potential role of monocyte activation in HIV-related CVD risk.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Medicine, University of Minnesota bDivision of Infectious Diseases, Hennepin County Medical Center cDivision of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota dNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland eNational Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, Colorado fWashington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri gMiriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island hDivision of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia iAtherosclerosis Research Unit, University of Southern California jLos Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Jason V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Katherine Huppler
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hullsiek
authors.forename: Amrit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lichtenstein
authors.forename: Nur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Onen
authors.forename: Erna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kojic
authors.forename: Pragna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Howard N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Hodis
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Budoff
authors.forename: Irini
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sereti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium