Age and viral replication, not vertical HIV acquisition, drive inflammation and T-cell dysfunction in heavily treatment experienced: data from the Prestigio Registry
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Heavily treatment-experienced (HTE) individuals carry a high inflammatory burden, which is potentially increased in those with vertical HIV transmission (VT), due to lifelong viral exposure. We assessed inflammation and T-cell activation/exhaustion/senescence in HTE with VT or horizontal transmission (HT). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was lower in VT and positively correlated with age. T-cell dysfunction was greater in HTE than people without HIV (PWOH), mainly driven by viremic VT and HT. Age and viral replication, rather than transmission mode, underlie immune dysregulation in HTE.
Source: AIDS
Institutions: Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Santi Paolo e Carlo, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, University of Milan, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, University of Genoa, Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia, University of Brescia
Language: English
Topic: HIV Research and Treatment
Subfield: Virology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7141110006