A role for cytomegalovirus-specific CD4+CX3CR1+ T cells and cytomegalovirus-induced T-cell immunopathology in HIV-associated atherosclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

HIV-infected individuals are at increased risk for myocardial infarction. Given observations that cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, CMV-specific T cells, and CX3CR1 have each been associated with atherosclerosis, we hypothesized that CMV-induced T-cell immunopathology could contribute to HIV-associated atherosclerosis.

Methods

We measured the expression of CX3CR1 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and its association with carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) in 29 HIV-infected individuals and 48 uninfected controls. We analyzed the phenotype and specificity of CX3CR1(+)CD4(+) T cells, the production of CX3CL1 (the ligand of CX3CR1) by CMV-infected endothelial cells in vitro, and the migration of CD4(+) T cells induced by CX3CL1.

Results

The progress

SUBMITTER: Sacre K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4155398 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature