HIV-1 Inhibits Phagocytosis and Inflammatory Cytokine Responses of Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages to P-falciparum Infected Erythrocytes

HIV-1 infection increases the risk and severity of malaria by poorly defined mechanisms. We investigated the effect of HIV-(1Ba-L) infection of monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) on phagocytosis of opsonised P. falciparum infected erythrocytes (IE) and subsequent proinflammatory cytokine secretion. Compared to mock-infected MDM, HIV-1 infection significantly inhibited phagocytosis of IE (median (IQR) (10 (0-28) versus (34 (27-108); IE internalised/100 MDM; p = 0.001) and decreased secretion of IL-6 (1,116 (352-3,387) versus 1,552 (889-6,331); pg/mL; p = 0.0078) and IL-1 beta (16 (7-21) versus 33 (27-65); pg/mL; p = 0.0078). Thus inadequate phagocytosis and cytokine production may contribute to impaired control of malaria in HIV-1 infected individuals.