UCSF

Objective

Persistent systemic inflammation is associated with the inability of some HIV-infected patients to normalize circulating CD4 T-cell levels after years of suppressive antiretroviral therapy. In this study, we sought to understand whether such systemic inflammation is also associated with detectable signs of inflammation in biopsies from the rectosigmoid colon.

Design

Immunologic and virological parameters were studied in the peripheral blood and in rectosigmoid colon biopsies from individuals with viral suppression for at least 2 years and with peripheral CD4 T-cell levels of <350 cells per cubic millimeter (immunologic nonresponders, n = 18) or >500 cells per cubic millimeter (immunologic responders, n = 16).

Methods

Peripheral blood and rectosigmoid colon biopsies were analyzed by flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Nonresponders had elevated T-cell activation and inflammatory cytokines in the circulation, but inflammatory gene expression in colon biopsies was not different as compared with responders, and there was little relationship between blood and colon markers of inflammation. Blood inflammatory markers were positively associated with soluble CD14 levels indicative of monocyte activation.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that, in the context of treated HIV disease, it is easier to detect parameters of inflammation (including blood monocyte activation) in the peripheral blood than in isolated rectosigmoid colon biopsies. Accordingly, interventions to block such inflammation in this population might be most conveniently and accurately assessed in blood.