Lipid Abnormalities and Inflammation in HIV Inflection

• Published in: Current HIV/AIDS reports Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 218 - 225
• Main Authors: Funderburg, Nicholas T., Mehta, Nehal N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.08.2016
• Subjects: Anti-Retroviral Agents - therapeutic use; Cholesterol - blood; Complications of Antiretroviral Therapy (G McComsey; HIV Infections - blood; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - immunology; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Inflammation - blood; Inflammation - pathology; Lipid Metabolism - immunology; Lipids - blood; Lipoproteins - blood; Lipoproteins, HDL - blood; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; RNA, Viral - analysis; Section Editor; Topical Collection on Complications of Antiretroviral Therapy; HDL cholesterol efflux; Lipid composition; Inflammation; Oxidized LDL; Antiretroviral therapy; Statins
• ISSN: 1548-3568; 1548-3576
• DOI: 10.1007/s11904-016-0321-0

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and subsequent treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART), is often associated with perturbations in lipid profiles. Furthermore, persistent inflammation, in spite of suppression of viral replication by ART, likely contributes to modifications in lipid composition and function, exacerbating risk for development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increased levels of several pro-inflammatory lipid species, including oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), have been measured in HIV-infected persons and are associated with markers of immune activation. The mechanisms linked to this bidirectional relationship in which inflammation increases lipid levels and promotes their modification, and these modified lipid species perpetuate inflammatory processes, require further investigation. Treatment with statins and other lifestyle modifications, including improvement in dietary intake and exercise, are critical to reducing CVD risk. Well-designed clinical trials that take into account the complex relationships among lipids and inflammation within persons infected with HIV need to be considered.