CD16-expressing monocytes correlate with arterial stiffness in HIV-infected ART-naive men

Objectives: To determine the association of the markers of monocyte activation and arterial stiffness among HIV-infected antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive men. Methods: Sixty HIV-infected ART-naive men and 20 HIV-uninfected male controls without symptoms or history of cardiovascular disease were recruited. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) were used as the marker of arterial stiffness and determined using a pulse pressure analyzer. The percentage of CD16-expressing monocytes was used as a marker of monocyte activation. Plasma neopterin concentration, one of the monocyte/macrophage activation markers and plasma tissue factor (TF), the coagulation marker in response to inflammatory stimuli, were also analyzed. Multivariate analyses were used to explore the association of the percentage of CD16-expressing monocytes with arterial stiffness in HIV-infected men. Results: HIV-infected ART-naive men demonstrated significantly higher PWV (1252.8 +/- 161.6 vs. 1159.2 +/- 108.3 cm/s, p = 0.018). The percentage of CD16-expressing monocytes was significantly higher in HIV-infected men comparing male controls (23.4 +/- 6.0% vs. 19.6 +/- 4.6%, p = 0.012). Plasma concentrations of neopterin (0.91 vs. 0.64 ng/ml), p < 0.001) and TF (5.29 vs. 4.43 pg/ml, p = 0.04) were higher in HIV-infected men comparing controls. In the multivariate model for PWV among HIV-infected men, the percentage of CD16-expressing monocytes (p = 0.023) and age (p = 0.017) were significantly associated with PWV. HIV viral load, CD4 count, percentage of CD8+CD38+T cells and percentage of CD8+HLA-DR+T cells were not associated with PWV. Discussion: Higher level of monocyte activation marker is associated with higher level of arterial stiffness in ART naive HIV-infected men. HIV viral load, CD4 count, and the markers of CD8 T cell activation were unrelated to PWV.