C-reactive protein levels increase during HIV-1 disease progression in Rakai, Uganda, despite the absence of microbial translocation.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

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.

• Authors: Andrew D Redd, Kevin P Eaton, Xiangrong Kong, Oliver Laeyendecker, Tom Lutalo, Maria J Wawer, Ronald H Gray, David Serwadda, Thomas C Quinn, Rakai Health Sciences Program
• Journal: Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) (J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr) Vol. 54 Issue 5 Pg. 556-9 (Aug 2010) ISSN: 1944-7884 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20463585 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• C-Reactive Protein

Topics

• Blood Chemical Analysis
• C-Reactive Protein (analysis)
• Disease Progression
• HIV Infections (immunology, pathology, virology)
• HIV-1 (immunology, isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Longitudinal Studies
• Uganda