title: Reduced Plasma Levels of sCD14 and I-FABP in HIV-infected Patients with Mesalazine-treated Ulcerative Colitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microbial translocation (MT) is a shared feature of HIV infection and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to assess the impact of IBD (and particularly ulcerative colitis, UC) on plasma markers of MT and immune activation in HIV+ subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in 3 groups of patients: HIV+/UC+(group HIV/UC); HIV+/UC- (group HIV); HIV-/UC+(group UC). Plasma levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14), intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP), and endotoxin core antibodies (endoCAB) were measured as plasma markers of MT. Inflammation and immune activation were evaluated by measuring plasma levels of IL-6, IL-21, TNF-alpha, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). T- and B-cells subpopulations were characterized by FACS analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients were enrolled in group HIV/UC, 9 in HIV, and 10 in UC. All HIV-positive patients had plasma values of HIV-1 RNA<37 copies/mL for at least 12 months and good immunological recovery. All patients with UC were treated with oral mesalazine. Markers of MT, immune activation, and inflammation were not increased in subjects with HIV/UC. In fact, they had lower levels of I-FABP (p=0.001) and sCD14 (p=0.007) when compared to other patients groups. Positive correlations were found between I-FABP and sCD14 (r=.355, p=0.076). Frequency of T- and B-cell subsets did not differ among groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that UC does not worsen MT, inflammation, or immune activation in HIV-infected subjects. The anti-inflammatory activity of chronic mesalazine administration on intestinal mucosa may contribute to this finding.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation , Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Zuleika
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Michelini
authors.affiliation: a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation , Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baroncelli
authors.affiliation: b Department of Clinical Medicine , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fantauzzi
authors.affiliation: c Gastroenterology, Department of Clinical Medicine , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pasquale
authors.affiliation: a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation , Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Clementina Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Galluzzo
authors.affiliation: d Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences , Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.affiliation: c Gastroenterology, Department of Clinical Medicine , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gatto
authors.affiliation: a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation , Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amici
authors.affiliation: a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation , Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: e Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases , Policlinico Umberto I , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: d'Ettorre
authors.affiliation: e Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases , Policlinico Umberto I , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fimiani
authors.affiliation: c Gastroenterology, Department of Clinical Medicine , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Ivano
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mezzaroma
authors.affiliation: f Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vullo
authors.affiliation: c Gastroenterology, Department of Clinical Medicine , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merli
authors.affiliation: a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation , Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palmisano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015415:Biomarkers; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D019804:Mesalamine; D000098546:Interleukin-21
keywords: HIV infection; Inflammatory bowel disease; Microbial translocation; Soluble CD14; Ulcerative colitis