Elevated plasma levels of IP-10 and MIG are early predictors of loss of control among elite HIV controllers.

Plasma cytokine levels were quantified among 30 persons with HIV (PWH) identified as elite controllers (15 transient controllers [studied a median of 1.38 years before losing viral control] and 15 persistent controllers). Thirty antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive PWH, 30 ART-treated PWH with undetectable viremia, and 30 HIV-uninfected controls also were studied. Higher levels of cytokines were recognized among PWH than among controls, with EC displaying the highest levels. Elevated levels of IP-10 and MIG were identified among transient controllers as predictors of the loss of viral control. These findings offer feasible biomarkers for predicting virologic outcome and loss of control in EC.

IP-10 and MIG are sensitive markers of early virological response to HIV-1 integrase inhibitors.

Background: Interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) and monokine induced by interferon-gamma (MIG) are chemokines recognized as inflammatory biomarkers during HIV-1 infection. We assessed their early and long-term dynamics after initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART). Methods: Persons with HIV-1 (PWH) aged>18 years starting their first ART in 2015-2021 in a prospective cohort (n=73) were included. IP-10 and MIG plasma levels were quantified using a multiplexed bead-based assay. Results: IP-10 and MIG plasma levels showed a significant and consistent reduction following ART (80% integrase inhibitor [INSTI]-based) initiation, starting at day 20 and maintained throughout the study period (48 months), paralleling the HIV-1 RNA decay and CD4+ count recovery (p<0·001). At baseline, PWH≥ 50 years, CDC stage C and CD4+ count<350cells/mm3 had higher levels of IP-10 (p=0·022, p=0·001 and p=0·002, respectively) and MIG (p<0·001, p=0·024 and p=0·069, respectively). All of them matched their counterparts several months following ART initiation. MIG levels showed a greater decrease at day 10 in those treated with INSTI (p=0·038). Low-level HIV-1 viremia did not impact MIG or IP-10 levels. Conclusion: Plasma IP-10 and MIG showed an early significant decline following ART initiation, with greater early declines in MIG levels in INSTI-based regimens. These findings suggest a strong impact of HIV-1 viremia on IP-10 and MIG levels.

High Levels of IL-1ß, TNF-α and MIP-1α One Month after the Onset of the Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Predictors of Post COVID-19 in Hospitalized Patients.

The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection has left behind a new symptomatology called post COVID-19, or "long COVID". The pathophysiological mechanisms still remain controversial; however, a link between persistent inflammation and these sequelae has been suggested. Herein, we longitudinally assessed up- and downstream molecules of the NLRP3 inflammasome's pathway in three study groups: healthy donors (HC, n = 14) and donors with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who had been hospitalized, the latter divided into post COVID-19 (PC, n = 27) and non-post COVID-19 patients (nPC, n = 27) based on the presence or absence of symptomatology at month 6, respectively. Plasma cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-3, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18, IP-10, MIG, TNF-α, IFN-γ, MIP-1α and MIP-1ß) and total peroxide (TPX) levels were quantified at baseline and at months 1 and 6 after the onset of the infection. Baseline values were the highest for both TPX and cytokines that progressively decreased thereafter the acute infection. IL-1ß, MIP-1α and TNF-α at month 1 were the only cytokines that showed a significant difference between nPC and PC. These findings suggest that a persistent inflammatory state one month after the onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection related to specific cytokines (IL-1ß, MIP-1α, and TNF-α) might guide to predicting post COVID-19 symptomatology.