Associations Between B-Cell Subsets and Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease in Ugandans With and Without HIV.
| Title: | Associations Between B-Cell Subsets and Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease in Ugandans With and Without HIV. |
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| Authors: | Obare LM; Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.; Temu TM; Department of Pathology, Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.; Ding T; Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.; Mtui J; Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.; Kityo C; Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda.; Nazzinda R; Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda.; Nalukwago S; Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda.; Simmons J; Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.; Hager-Nochowicz C; Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.; Ogaga E; Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.; Stephens VR; Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.; Nthenge K; Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.; Zhang X; Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.; Zhao Z; Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.; Longenecker CT; Division of Cardiology and Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.; Wanjalla CN; Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.; The Tennessee Center for AIDS Research, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. |
| Source: | Open forum infectious diseases [Open Forum Infect Dis] 2026 Mar 09; Vol. 13 (3), pp. ofag107. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Mar 09 (Print Publication: 2026). |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101637045 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 2328-8957 (Print) Linking ISSN: 23288957 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Open Forum Infect Dis Subsets: PubMed not MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Cary, NC : Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, [2014]- |
| Abstract: | Background: People living with HIV-1 (PLWH) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), influenced by chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and antiretroviral therapy (ART). B cells regulate immune responses, but their contribution to HIV-associated atherosclerosis remains poorly defined.; Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we enrolled 40 PLWH and 60 people without HIV (PWoH) in Uganda, matched 1:1.5 for age and CVD risk. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were profiled by mass cytometry to define immune cell subsets. Coronary computed tomography angiography quantified coronary artery disease using the segment stenosis score (SSS). We used multivariable hurdle regression to estimate the effect sizes of immune clusters, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score, HIV status, and gender.; Results: Median age was 60 years, with no difference by HIV status. People living with HIV had a lower proportion of CCR7- naïve B cells than PWoH (median 1.5% vs 1.8%; P-value adjusted [padj] = .03). Across all participants, higher CCR7- naïve B cells (ratio = 0.55, P = .02), CXCR3+CX3CR1+ B cells (ratio = 0.54, P = .03), and plasmablasts (ratio = 0.57, P = .003) were associated with lower SSS. HIV-positive status was linked to nearly 3-fold higher SSS (P < .01). In stratified analyses, classical monocytes (CD14+CD16-) correlated with higher SSS among PLWH. When classical monocytes were held at the median, higher CCR7- naïve B cells were protective in PLWH (ratio = 0.55, P = .02).; Conclusions: This exploratory study suggests that lower frequencies of naïve B cells in PLWH are associated with differences in subclinical atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms cannot be inferred from this study.; (© The Author(s) 2026. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.) |
| Competing Interests: | Potential conflicts of interest. All authors: No reported conflicts. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: B cells; HIV; cardiovascular disease; chronic inflammation; segment stenosis score |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260320 Date Completed: 20260320 Latest Revision: 20260320 |
| Update Code: | 20260320 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC12996881 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/ofid/ofag107 |
| PMID: | 41859698 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article