Persistent platelet activation and apoptosis in virologically suppressed HIV-infected individuals

Sci Rep. 2018 Oct 9;8(1):14999. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-33403-0.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases and thrombotic events became major clinical problems in the combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) era. Although the precise mechanisms behind these clinical problems have not been fully elucidated, a persistent pro-inflammatory state plays a central role. As platelets play important roles on both, thrombus formation and inflammatory/immune response, we aimed at investigating platelet function in HIV-infected subjects virologically controlled through cART. We evaluate parameters of activation, mitochondrial function and activation of apoptosis pathways in platelets from 30 HIV-infected individuals under stable cART and 36 healthy volunteers. Despite viral control achieved through cART, HIV-infected individuals exhibited increased platelet activation as indicated by P-selectin expression and platelet spreading when adhered on fibrinogen-coated surfaces. Platelets from HIV-infected subjects also exhibited mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of apoptosis pathways. Finally, thrombin stimuli induced lower levels of P-selectin translocation and RANTES secretion, but not TXA2 synthesis, in platelets from HIV-infected individuals compared to control; and labeling of platelet alpha granules showed reduced granule content in platelets from HIV-infected individuals when compared to healthy subjects. In summary, platelets derived from HIV-infected individuals under stable cART exhibit a phenotype of increased activation, activation of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis and undermined granule secretion in response to thrombin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / adverse effects*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / blood*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / chemically induced
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / genetics
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / pathology
  • Chemokine CCL5 / genetics
  • Female
  • HIV / pathogenicity
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / genetics
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / blood*
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Male
  • Mitochondria / genetics
  • Mitochondria / pathology
  • Monocytes
  • P-Selectin / genetics
  • Platelet Activation / drug effects
  • Platelet Activation / genetics
  • Platelet Aggregation / drug effects
  • Thrombin / metabolism
  • Thrombosis / blood*
  • Thrombosis / chemically induced
  • Thrombosis / genetics
  • Thrombosis / virology

Substances

  • CCL5 protein, human
  • Chemokine CCL5
  • P-Selectin
  • Thrombin