Immune Activation, Inflammation, and Non-AIDS Co-Morbidities in HIV-Infected Patients Under Long-Term ART

Overview

Journal Viruses

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2019 Mar 2

PMID 30818749

Citations 209

Authors

Sonia Zicari

Libera Sessa

Nicola Cotugno

Alessandra Ruggiero

Elena Morrocchi

Carlo Concato

Salvatore Rocca

Paola Zangari

Emma C Manno

Paolo Palma

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Despite effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), people living with HIV (PLWH) still present persistent chronic immune activation and inflammation. This condition is the result of several factors including thymic dysfunction, persistent antigen stimulation due to low residual viremia, microbial translocation and dysbiosis, caused by the disruption of the gut mucosa, co-infections, and cumulative ART toxicity. All of these factors can create a vicious cycle that does not allow the full control of immune activation and inflammation, leading to an increased risk of developing non-AIDS co-morbidities such as metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. This review aims to provide an overview of the most recent data about HIV-associated inflammation and chronic immune exhaustion in PLWH under effective ART. Furthermore, we discuss new therapy approaches that are currently being tested to reduce the risk of developing inflammation, ART toxicity, and non-AIDS co-morbidities.

Citing Articles

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