Macrophage Inflammatory Markers Are Associated With Subclinical Carotid Artery Disease in Women With Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Objective— Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be associated with atherosclerosis and vascular disease. Macrophages are a major component of atherosclerotic plaque, and classically activated (M1) macrophages contribute to plaque instability. Our goal was to identify plasma biomarkers that reflect macrophage inflammation and are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. Approach and Results— We tested whether M1 macrophages produce galectin-3–binding protein in vitro. Then, we measured galectin-3–binding protein and the soluble macrophage biomarkers soluble cluster of differentiation (CD) 163 and soluble CD14 in 264 participants in the Women’s Interagency HIV Study. Women were positive for HIV, HCV, both, or neither (66 in each group, matched for age, race/ethnicity, and smoking status). Carotid artery disease was assessed by ultrasound measurement of right distal common carotid artery intima-media thickness, distensibility, and presence of atherosclerotic lesions (intima-media thickness >1.5 mm). Plasma galectin-3–binding protein was higher in HCV+ than HCV− women ( P Conclusions— The macrophage inflammatory markers galectin-3–binding protein, soluble CD163, and soluble CD14 are significantly associated with carotid artery disease in the setting of HIV and HCV infection.