Explore the vast range of titles available.

Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy is an important aspect in the care of patients with HIV. In a randomized trial, a low prophylactic dose of prednisone was shown to prevent paradoxical tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in HIV-infected patients.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is an opportunistic infectious demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by JC polyomavirus predominantly affecting immunocompromised individuals. Nowadays, HIV, hematological malignancies and iatrogenic immune suppression account for most PML cases. For unknown reasons, spinal cord is classically protected from PML lesions. Here, we report the course of a patient harboring spinal cord lesions in the context of PML with immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome and review the eight other cases reported in the literature so far. Then, we discuss the evolving spectrum of PML over recent years, potentially making its diagnosis more challenging.

Genetic associations within the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene complex and linked genes in TB-IRIS outcomes remains population specific and not well understood. Here, we conducted a study including well characterised HIV-TB coinfected patients with (n = 86) and without (n = 124) TB-IRIS from the randomized, double-blind, prophylactic prednisone trial (PredART study) with HLA, ERAP and KIR genotyping data. We confirmed the association of TB-IRIS with lower CD4 counts pre-ART initiation. We identified nine classical class I and II HLA alleles protective against TB-IRIS, while four alleles were linked to increased risk. Associations ranged from strongly protective (HLA-DQB1*05:01, OR: 0.07, 95%CI: 0.02-0.28, Pc < 0.001) to strongly risk associated (notably DRB1*01:02, OR: 5.92, 95%CI: 1.36-26.7, Pc = 0.028), with conflicting signals at the HLA-DRB1 locus. Conditional regression analysis revealed that residue E71 at the polymorphic position 71 within the HLA-DRB1 peptide-binding groove was critical, and grouping of HLA-DRB1 alleles by the residue at position 71 corresponded with differential TB-IRIS association. In conclusion, this study identifies population-specific genetic factors influencing TB-IRIS susceptibility and highlights a potential mechanistic role for specific HLA-DRB1 residues in modulating immune responses during ART.

The incidence, manifestations, outcome and clinical predictors of paradoxical TB-IRIS in patients with HIV and culture confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in India have not been studied prospectively. HIV+ patients with culture confirmed PTB started on anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) were followed prospectively after anti-retroviral therapy (ART) initiation. Established criteria for IRIS diagnosis were used including decline in plasma HIV RNA at IRIS event. Pre-ART plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between baseline variables and IRIS. Of 57 patients enrolled, 48 had complete follow up data. Median ATT-ART interval was 28 days (interquartile range, IQR 14-47). IRIS events occurred in 26 patients (54.2%) at a median of 11 days (IQR: 7-16) after ART initiation. Corticosteroids were required for treatment of most IRIS events that resolved within a median of 13 days (IQR: 9-23). Two patients died due to CNS TB-IRIS. Lower CD4(+) T-cell counts, higher plasma HIV RNA levels, lower CD4/CD8 ratio, lower hemoglobin, shorter ATT to ART interval, extra-pulmonary or miliary TB and higher plasma IL-6 and CRP levels at baseline were associated with paradoxical TB-IRIS in the univariate analysis. Shorter ATT to ART interval, lower hemoglobin and higher IL-6 and CRP levels remained significant in the multivariate analysis. Paradoxical TB-IRIS frequently complicates HIV-TB therapy in India. IL-6 and CRP may assist in predicting IRIS events and serve as potential targets for immune interventions.

Background. Substantial morbidity occurs during the first year of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in persons with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease despite HIV suppression. Biomarkers may identify highrisk groups. Methods. Pre-ART and 1-month samples from an initial ART trial were evaluated for biomarkers associated with AIDS events or death within 1-12 months. Case patients (n ⁻ 63) and control patients (n = 126) were 1: 2 matched on baseline CD4 cell count, hepatitis status, and randomization date. All had > 1 log ₁₀ HIV RNA level decrease at 1 month. Results. Case patients had more frequent prior AIDS events, compared with control patients (P = .004), but similar HIV RNA levels at baseline. Pre-ART and 1-month C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels and pre-ART hyaluronic acid (HA) levels were associated with new AIDS events or death (P < .01). Patients who experienced immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) events had higher pre-ART tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and HIV RNA levels and significant 1-month increases in CRP, D-dimer, IL-6, interleukin 8, CXCL10, TNF-α, and interferon-γ levels, compared with patients who experienced non-IRIS events (P < .03). Individuals with baseline CRP and HA levels above the cohort median (> 2.1 mg/L and > 50.0 ng/mL, respectively) had increased risk of AIDS or death (OR, 4.6 [95% CI, 2.0-10.3]; P < .001) and IRIS (OR, 8.7 [95% CI, 2.2-34.8] P = .002). Conclusions. Biomarkers of Inflammation (CRP, IL-6), coagulation (D-dimer), and tissue fibrosis (HA) measured pre-ART and at 1 month are associated with higher risk of AIDS events, IRIS, or death, warranting additional study as risk stratification strategies.

Immune recovery uveitis (IRU) is an intraocular inflammation that typically occurs as part of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in the eye. Typically, it affects human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with recognized or unrecognized cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis who are receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). IRU is a common cause of new vision loss in these patients, and it manifests with a wide range of symptoms and an increased risk of inflammatory complications, such as macular edema. Recently, similar IRU-like responses have been observed in non-HIV individuals with immune reconstitution following immunosuppression of diverse etiologies, posing challenges in diagnosis and treatment. This review provides an updated overview of the current literature on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, biomarkers, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment strategies for IRU.

HIV-tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS) is an immunopathological reaction to mycobacterial antigens induced by antiretroviral therapy. Prednisone reduces morbidity in TB-IRIS, but the mechanisms are unclear. To determine the effect of prednisone on the inflammatory response in TB-IRIS (antigen-specific effector T cells, cytokines, and chemokines). Blood was taken from participants in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of prednisone for TB-IRIS, at 0, 2, and 4 weeks. Participants received prednisone at a dosage of 1.5 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks followed by 0.75 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks, or placebo at identical dosages. Analyses included IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT), reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction on peripheral blood mononuclear cells after restimulation with heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Luminex multiplex cytokine analysis of corresponding tissue culture supernatants, and Luminex multiplex cytokine analysis of serum. Fifty-eight participants with TB-IRIS (31 receiving prednisone, 27 receiving placebo) were included. In serum, significant decreases in IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 p40, tumor necrosis factor-α, IFN-γ, and IFN-γ-induced protein-10 concentrations during prednisone, but not placebo, treatment were observed. No differences in ELISPOT responses comparing prednisone and placebo groups were shown in response to ESAT-6 (early secreted antigen target-6), Acr1, Acr2, 38-kD antigen, or heat-killed H37Rv M. tuberculosis. Purified protein derivative ELISPOT responses increased over 4 weeks in the prednisone group and decreased in the placebo group (P = 0.007). The beneficial effects of prednisone in TB-IRIS appear to be mediated via suppression of predominantly proinflammatory cytokine responses of innate immune origin, not via a reduction of the numbers of antigen-specific T cells in peripheral blood.

Paradoxical tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS) is an aberrant inflammatory response occurring in a subset of TB-HIV co-infected patients initiating anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Here, we examined monocyte activation by prospectively quantitating pro-inflammatory plasma markers and monocyte subsets in TB-HIV co-infected patients from a South Indian cohort at baseline and following ART initiation at the time of IRIS, or at equivalent time points in non-IRIS controls. Pro-inflammatory biomarkers of innate and myeloid cell activation were increased in plasma of IRIS patients pre-ART and at the time of IRIS; this association was confirmed in a second cohort in South Africa. Increased expression of these markers correlated with elevated antigen load as measured by higher sputum culture grade and shorter duration of anti-TB therapy. Phenotypic analysis revealed the frequency of CD14(++)CD16(-) monocytes was an independent predictor of TB-IRIS, and was closely associated with plasma levels of CRP, TNF, IL-6 and tissue factor during IRIS. In addition, production of inflammatory cytokines by monocytes was higher in IRIS patients compared to controls pre-ART. These data point to a major role of mycobacterial antigen load and myeloid cell hyperactivation in the pathogenesis of TB-IRIS, and implicate monocytes and monocyte-derived cytokines as potential targets for TB-IRIS prevention or treatment.

Background. Extensive immunopathology occurs in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/tuberculosis (TB) coinfection, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well-defined. Excessive matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity is emerging as a key process but has not been systematically studied in HIV-associated TB. Methods. We performed a cross-sectional study of matrix turnover in HIV type 1 (HIV-1)–infected and –uninfected TB patients and controls, and a prospective cohort study of HIV-1–infected TB patients at risk of TB immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS), in Cape Town, South Africa. Sputum and plasma MMP concentrations were quantified by Luminex, plasma procollagen III N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and urinary lipoarabinomannan (LAM) by Alere Determine TB LAM assay. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors were cultured with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and extracellular matrix in a 3D model of TB granuloma formation. Results. MMP activity differed between HIV-1–infected and –uninfected TB patients and corresponded with specific TB clinical phenotypes. HIV-1–infected TB patients had reduced pulmonary MMP concentrations, associated with reduced cavitation, but increased plasma PIIINP, compared to HIV-1–uninfected TB patients. Elevated extrapulmonary extracellular matrix turnover was associated with TB-IRIS, both before and during TB-IRIS onset. The predominant collagenase was MMP-8, which was likely neutrophil derived and M. tuberculosis–antigen driven. Mycobacterium tuberculosis–induced matrix degradation was suppressed by the MMP inhibitor doxycycline in vitro. Conclusions. MMP activity in TB differs by HIV-1 status and compartment, and releases matrix degradation products. Matrix turnover in HIV-1–infected patients is increased before and during TB-IRIS, informing novel diagnostic strategies. MMP inhibition is a potential host-directed therapy strategy for prevention and treatment of TB-IRIS.

After initiation of combination antiretroviral treatment (cART), HIV-1/tuberculosis coinfected patients are at high risk of developing tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS). MicroRNAs, small molecules of approximately 22 nucleotides, which regulate post-transcriptional gene expression and their profile has been proposed as a biomarker for many diseases. We tested whether the microRNA profile could be a predictive biomarker for TB-IRIS. Twenty-six selected microRNAs involved in the regulation of the innate immune response were investigated. Free plasmatic and microRNA-derived exosomes were measured by flow cytometry. The plasma from 74 HIV-1+TB+ individuals (35 IRIS and 39 non-IRIS) at the time of the diagnosis and before any treatment (baseline) of CAMELIA trial (ANRS1295-CIPRA KH001-DAIDS-ES ID10425); 15 HIV+TB- and 23 HIV-TB+, both naïve of any treatment; and 20 HIV-TB- individuals as controls were analysed. At baseline, both IRIS and non-IRIS HIV+/TB+ individuals had similar demographic and clinical characteristics, including sex, age, body mass index, very low CD4+ cell counts (27 cells/mm ), and plasma HIV RNA load levels (5.76 log copies/ml). Twenty out of 26 plasmatic-microRNAs tested were no different between IRIS and controls. Twelve of the 26 tested microRNAs showed statistically significant differences between IRIS and non-IRIS patients (p-values ranging from p <0.05 to p <0.0001). Among these, five could discriminate between IRIS and non-IRIS individuals using ROC curve analysis (AUC scores ranging from 0.74 to 0.92). The combination of two (hsa-mir-29c-3p and hsa-mir-146a-5p) or three microRNAs (hsa-mir-29c-3p, hsa-mir-29a-3p, and hsa-mir-146a-5p) identified IRIS with 100% sensitivity and high specificity (95% and 97%, respectively). The combination of at least two or three plasmatic microRNAs known to regulate inflammation and/or cytokine responses could be used as biomarkers to discriminate IRIS from non-IRIS in HIV-TB co-infected individuals at the time of diagnosis and prior to any treatment.