Open AccessElevated Eosinophils as a Feature of Inflammation Associated With Hypertension in Virally Suppressed People Living With HIV
Author(s) -
Masenga Sepiso K.,
Elijovich Fernando,
Hamooya Benson M.,
Nzala Selestine,
Kwenda Geoffrey,
Heimburger Douglas C.,
Mutale Wilbroad,
Munsaka Sody M.,
Zhao Shilin,
Koethe John R.,
Kirabo Annet
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of the american heart association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.494
H-Index - 85
ISSN - 2047-9980
DOI - 10.1161/jaha.118.011450
Subject(s) - medicine , inflammation , immunology , immune system , body mass index , cohort , eosinophil , intercellular adhesion molecule , disease , immune dysregulation , systemic inflammation , tumor necrosis factor alpha , cell , cell adhesion , asthma , genetics , biology
Background People living with HIV ( PLWH ) are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, which persists despite effective plasma viral suppression on antiretroviral therapy. HIV infection is characterized by long‐term alterations in immune function, but the contribution of immune factors to hypertension in PLWH is not fully understood. Prior studies have found that both innate and adaptive immune cell activation contributes to hypertension. Methods and Results We hypothesized that chronic inflammation may contribute to hypertension in PLWH . To test this hypothesis, we enrolled a cohort of 70 PLWH (44% hypertensive) on a long‐term single antiretroviral therapy regimen for broad phenotyping of inflammation biomarkers. We found that hypertensive PLWH had higher levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor‐α receptor 1, interleukin‐6, interleukin‐17, interleukin‐5, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α. After adjustment for age, sex, and fat mass index, the circulating eosinophils remained significantly associated with hypertension. On the basis of these results, we assessed the relationship of eosinophils and hypertension in 2 cohorts of 50 and 81 039 similar HIV ‐negative people; although eosinophil count was associated with prevalent hypertension, this relationship was abrogated by body mass index. Conclusions These findings may represent a unique linkage between immune status and cardiovascular physiological characteristics in HIV infection, which should be evaluated further.