Background The role of alcohol consumption in HIV-related adaptive immune dysfunction is debated. We hypothesized that heavy drinking would be associated with greater evidence of immunosenescence (i.e. aging related decline of adaptive immune function) among antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve HIV-infected individuals. Methods Using data from the Russia ARCH cohort study, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of ART-naïve HIV-infected individuals recruited between 2012–2014. Independent variable: Heavy drinking defined as > 4 standard drinks in a day (or > 14 standard drinks/week) for men and > 3/day (or > 7/week) for women respectively. Dependent variables: Percentage of CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells with a phenotype consistent with immunosenescence (i.e. expressing CD28-CD57+, or memory [CD45RO+CD45RA+] phenotype and not the naïve [CD45RO-CD45RA+] phenotype). Statistical analysis : Multiple linear regression adjusted for confounders. Results Of 214 eligible participants, 61% were heavy drinkers. Mean age was 33 years and the cohort was predominantly male (72%). Hepatitis C prevalence was high (87%) and mean log 10} HIV-1 RNA copies/mL was 4.6. We found no significant differences by drinking status in the percentage of immunosenescent, memory or naive CD8+ or CD4+ T-cells. Conclusions In this cross-sectional analysis, heavy drinking in the setting of untreated HIV infection did not appear to be associated with alterations in T-cells with phenotypes consistent with immunosenescence. To substantiate these findings, longitudinal studies should assess whether changes in alcohol consumption are associated with changes in these and other immunosenescent T-cell phenotypes.
【저자키워드】 HIV, Russia, immunosenescence, T-cell, heavy drinking,