Work

Mycobacterium tuberculosis co-infection is associated with increased surrogate marker of the HIV reservoir

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Background Tuberculosis (Tb) is the most frequent opportunistic infection among people living with HIV infection. The impact of Tb co-infection in the establishment and maintenance of the HIV reservoir is unclear. Method We enrolled 13 HIV-infected patients with microbiologically confirmed Tb and 10 matched mono-HIV infected controls. Total HIV DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), plasma interleukin-7 (IL-7) concentrations and the activities of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) were measured for all the participants prior to therapy and after antiretroviral therapy (ART). Results After a duration of 16 (12, 22) months’ ART, patients co-infected with Tb who were cured of Tb maintained higher levels of HIV DNA compared with mono-HIV infected patients [2.89 (2.65- 3.05) log 10 copies/10 6 cells vs. 2.30 (2.11–2.84) log 10 copies/10 6 cells, P = 0.008]. The levels of on-ART HIV DNA were positively correlated with the baseline viral load ( r = 0.64, P = 0.02) in Tb co-infected group. However, neither plasma IL-7 concentration nor plasma IDO activity was correlated with the level of on-ART HIV DNA. Conclusions Tb co-infection was associated with the increased surrogate marker of the HIV reservoir, while its mechanism warrants further examination.

Source: AIDS Research and Therapy

DOI: 10.1186/s12981-020-00320-0