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Effects of Heavy Drinking on T‐Cell Phenotypes Consistent with Immunosenescence in Untreated HIV Infection
Author(s) -
SoArmah Kaku A.,
Edelman E. Jennifer,
Cheng Debbie M.,
Doyle Margaret F.,
Patts Gregory J.,
Gnatienko Natalia,
Krupitsky Evgeny M.,
Samet Jeffrey H.,
Freiberg Matthew S.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.13142
Subject(s) - immunosenescence , cohort , medicine , immunology , phenotype , confounding , immune system , cross sectional study , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , cohort study , physiology , demography , biology , pathology , genetics , sociology , gene
Background The role of alcohol consumption in HIV ‐related adaptive immune dysfunction is debated. We hypothesized that heavy drinking would be associated with greater evidence of immunosenescence (i.e., aging‐related decline of adaptive immune function) among antiretroviral therapy ( ART )‐naïve HIV ‐infected individuals. Methods Using data from the Russia ARCH cohort study, we conducted a cross‐sectional analysis of ART ‐naïve HIV ‐infected individuals recruited between 2012 and 2014. Independent variable : Heavy drinking defined as >4 standard drinks in a day (or >14 standard drinks per week) for men and >3 per day (or >7 per week) for women, respectively. Dependent variables : Percentage of CD 8+ and CD 4+ T‐cells with a phenotype consistent with immunosenescence (i.e., expressing CD 28− CD 57+, or memory [ CD 45 RO + CD 45 RA +] phenotype and not the naïve [ CD 45 RO − CD 45 RA +] phenotype). Statistical analysis : Multiple linear regression adjusted for confounders. Results Of 214 eligible participants, 61% were heavy drinkers. Mean age was 33 years and the cohort was predominantly male (72%). Hepatitis C prevalence was high (87%) and mean log 10 HIV ‐1 RNA copies/ml was 4.6. We found no significant differences by drinking status in the percentage of immunosenescent, memory, or naïve CD 8+ or CD 4+ T‐cells. Conclusions In this cross‐sectional analysis, heavy drinking in the setting of untreated HIV infection did not appear to be associated with alterations in T‐cell phenotypes consistent with immunosenescence. To substantiate these findings, longitudinal studies should assess whether changes in alcohol consumption are associated with changes in these and other immunosenescent T‐cell phenotypes.