biostudies-literatureEnkhmaa BNCATS NIH HHSNHLBI NIH HHS387-92https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4537858biostudies-literatureUnknown33(2)Mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular risk of lipoprotein(a) are poorly understood. We investigated the relationship of apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)) size, lipoprotein(a), and allele-specific apo(a) levels with HIV disease activity parameters in a biethnic population.Lipoprotein(a) and allele-specific apo(a) levels were determined in 139 white and 168 black HIV-positive patients. Plasma HIV RNA viral load and CD4+ T-cell count were used as surrogates for disease activity. Lipoprotein(a) and allele-specific apo(a) levels were higher in blacks than whites (for both P<0.001). Apo(a) allele size distribution was similar between the 2 ethnic groups, with a median apo(a) size of 28 kringle 4 repeats. Allele-specific apo(a) levels were positively associated with CD4+ T-cell count (P=0.027) and negatively with plasma HIV RNA viral load (P<0.001). Further, allele-specific apo(a) levels associated with smaller (<28 kringle 4) atherogenic apo(a) sizes were higher in subjects with CD4+ T-cell counts of ?350 (P=0.002).Allele-specific apo(a) levels were higher in subjects with high CD4+ T-cell count or low plasma HIV RNA viral load. The findings suggest that HIV disease activity reduced allele-specific apo(a) levels. Higher allele-specific apo(a) levels associated with atherogenic small apo(a) sizes might contribute to increased cardiovascular risk in HIV-positive subjects with improved disease status.Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biologyHIV disease activity as a modulator of lipoprotein(a) and allele-specific apolipoprotein(a) levels.PMC4537858UL1 TR000002KL2 TR000134TR000002R01 HL065938HL62705R01 HL062705Zhang WLi XDAsmuth DMPollard RBBerglund LAnuurad EDotterweich WAbbuthalha AEnkhmaa BfalseHIV disease activity as a modulator of lipoprotein(a) and allele-specific apolipoprotein(a) levels.Mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular risk of lipoprotein(a) are poorly understood. We investigated the relationship of apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)) size, lipoprotein(a), and allele-specific apo(a) levels with HIV disease activity parameters in a biethnic population.Lipoprotein(a) and allele-specific apo(a) levels were determined in 139 white and 168 black HIV-positive patients. Plasma HIV RNA viral load and CD4+ T-cell count were used as surrogates for disease activity. Lipoprotein(a) and allele-specific apo(a) levels were higher in blacks than whites (for both P<0.001). Apo(a) allele size distribution was similar between the 2 ethnic groups, with a median apo(a) size of 28 kringle 4 repeats. Allele-specific apo(a) levels were positively associated with CD4+ T-cell count (P=0.027) and negatively with plasma HIV RNA viral load (P<0.001). Further, allele-specific apo(a) levels associated with smaller (<28 kringle 4) atherogenic apo(a) sizes were higher in subjects with CD4+ T-cell counts of ?350 (P=0.002).Allele-specific apo(a) levels were higher in subjects with high CD4+ T-cell count or low plasma HIV RNA viral load. The findings suggest that HIV disease activity reduced allele-specific apo(a) levels. Higher allele-specific apo(a) levels associated with atherogenic small apo(a) sizes might contribute to increased cardiovascular risk in HIV-positive subjects with improved disease status.2013-01-01T00:00:00Z2013 Feb2020-10-29T13:54:49Z2019-03-27T01:56:50ZS-EPMC45378582320236710.1161/ATVBAHA.112.30012510.1161/atvbaha.112.300125