Brain vascular intima vulnerability among HIV-positive and negative individuals
Abstract
To test whether HIV is associated with brain large artery vulnerable intima. Cross-sectional study of autopsied HIV-positive (HIV+) cases sex and age-matched to HIV-negative (HIV-) controls. Brain large arteries from 302 autopsied cases (50% HIV+) were evaluated morphometrically for the presence of atherosclerosis, size of necrotic core, and fibrous cap thickness. Intima vulnerability was measured as intima elastolytic score [0-5, based on intimal metalloproteinases (MMP)-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9, and tissue inhibitor for MMP-1 and MMP-2 staining], intima inflammatory score (0-3, based on intimal presence of CD3 and CD68 cells and TNF-α staining), neoangiogenesis (factor VIII staining), and apoptosis (caspase 3 staining). Hierarchical generalized linear models were used to obtain the beta estimates and their 95% confidence intervals, adjusting for demographics and vascular risk factors. The prevalence of atherosclerosis did not differ by HIV status. Necrotic cores filled larger proportions of the intima in HIV+ individuals with CD4 cell count above 200 cells/μl at death compared to HIV- controls (adjusted B = 11.6%, P = 0.04). HIV+ individuals had greater elastolytic scores (adjusted B = 0.34, P = 0.02), especially those with less t...Continue Reading
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Apoptosis
Apoptosis is a specific process that leads to programmed cell death through the activation of an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway leading to pathognomic cellular changes distinct from cellular necrosis