Microvascular endothelial dysfunction and enhanced thromboxane and endothelial contractility in patients with HIV

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

12-1-2013

Journal

Journal of AIDS and Clinical Research

Volume

4

Issue

12

DOI

10.4172/2155-6113.1000267

Keywords

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA); Cardiovascuar disease (CVD); Endothelial dysfunction; Endothelin-1 (ET-1); Endothelium-dependent relaxing factor (EDRF); Nitric oxide (NO); Reactive oxygen species (ROS); Thromboxane-prostanoid receptors (TP-Rs)

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of cardiovascular disease is increased with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but the mechanism is unclear. We hypothesized that HIV increases microvascular reactive oxygen species, thereby impairing endothelial function and enhancing contractility. Method: Subcutaneous microarterioles were isolated from gluteal skin biopsies in premenopausal, African American, HIV positive women receiving effective anti-retroviral therapy, but without cardiovascular risk factors except for increased body mass index (n=10) and healthy matched controls (n=10). The arterioles were mounted on myographs, preconstricted and relaxed with acetylcholine for: endothelium-dependent relaxation, endothelium-dependent relaxation factor (nitric oxide synthase-dependent relaxation), endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizing factor (potassium-channel dependent relaxation) and endothelium-independent relaxation (nitroprusside). Contractions were tested to endothelium-dependent contracting factor (acetylcholine contraction with blocked relaxation); phenylephrine, U-46,619 and endothelin-1. Plasma L-arginine and asymmetric dimethylarginine were measured by high performance capillary electrophoresis. Results: The micro-arterioles from HIV positive women had significantly (% change in tension; P<0.05) reduced acetylcholine relaxation (-51 ± 6 vs. -78 ± 3%), endothelium-dependent relaxation factor (-28 ± 4 vs. -39 ± 3%), endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizing factor (-17 ± 4 vs. -37 ± 4%) and decreased nitric oxide activity (0.16 ± 0.03 vs. 0.70 ± 0.16 Δ unit) but unchanged nitroprusside relaxation. They had significantly enhanced endothelium-dependent contracting factor (+21 ± 6 vs. +7 ± 2%) and contractions to U-46,619 (+164 ± 10 vs. +117 ± 11%) and endothelin-1(+151 ± 12 vs. +97 ± 9%), but not to phenylephrine. There was enhanced reactive oxygen species with acetylcholine (0.11 ± 0.02 vs. 0.05 ± 0.01 Δ unit; P<0.05) and endothelin-1 (0.31 ± 0.06 vs. 0.10 ± 0.02 Δ unit; P<0.05). Plasma L-arginine: assymetric dimethyl arginine rates was reduced (173 ± 12 vs. 231 ± 6 μmol·μmol-1, P<0.05). Conclusion: Premenopausal HIV positive women had microvascular oxidative stress with severe endothelial dysfunction and reduced nitric oxide and arginine: assymetric dimethylarginine ratio but enhanced endothelial, thromboxane and endothelin contractions. These microvascular changes may herald later cardiovascular disease. © 2013 Wang D, et al.

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