HIV Infection Drives Foam Cell Formation via NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation.

ABSTRACT: Persistent immune activation is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The NLRP3 inflammasome may contribute to elevated CVD risk in PWH. This study utilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 25 PWH and 25 HIV-negative controls, as well as HIV in vitro infections. Transcriptional changes were analyzed using RNAseq and pathway analysis. Our results showed that in vitro HIV infection of macrophages and PBMCs from PWH had increased foam cell formation and expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome components and downstream cytokines (caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18), which was reduced with inhibition of NLRP3 activity using MCC950. Transcriptomic analysis revealed an increased expression of multiple genes invol

SUBMITTER: Caocci M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10889596 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature