Alteration of type I interferon response is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in virologically suppressed HIV-1-infected male patients.

Background Given HIV-1 infected patients have alterations in the type I interferon (IFN-I) pathway and are also at elevated risk of atherosclerosis, we evaluated IFN-I response and subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) association in HIV-1-infected patients. Methods Transcript levels of IFN-α/β and IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) 56 were evaluated by RT/Real-time PCR in PBMCs collected from asymptomatic HIV-1-positive male patients at high risk of developing CVD (n=34) and healthy subjects (n=21). Stenosis degree (≥ or Results Increased IFN-α, IFN-β and ISG56 levels were observed in all HIV-1-infected males compared to healthy controls (p 0.05). Conclusion Dysregulation of IFN-I response might participate in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated CVD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.