Non-classical monocytes predict progression of carotid artery bifurcation intima-media thickness in HIV-infected individuals on stable antiretroviral therapy

Background: Inflammation may contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) among antiretrovirally suppressed HIV-infected individuals. We assessed relationships of monocyte, CD8 T-cell activation and plasma biomarkers to changes in carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT).Methods: Longitudinal study of HIV-infected subjects ≥40 years and on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) ≥3 months. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were immunophenotyped by multiparameteric flow cytometry to quantify classical (CD14++CD16–), intermediate (CD14++CD16+), non-classical (CD14low/+CD16++) and transitional (CD14+CD16–) monocyte subsets and activated (CD38+HLA-DR+) CD8+ T-cells at baseline. Plasma biomarkers were assessed by multiplex Luminex assay. High-resolution B-mode ultrasounds of right carotid arteries were obtained. Changes in CIMT over two years at the right common carotid artery (CIMTCCA) and right bifurcation (CIMTBIF) were outcome variables.Results: We studied 50 subjects: 84% male, median age 49 (Q1, Q3; 46, 5...