Is increased carotid intima-media thickness in HIV patients associated with increased cytomegalovirus-specific T-cell responses?
HIV-infected subjects had thicker carotid IMT compared to controls. While HIV patients also had higher T-cell activation, hs-CRP levels, and CMV-specific T-cell responses, only CMV-specific T-cell responses were independently associated with IMT. Accelerated atherosclerosis in HIV patients may be mediated by heightened CMV-induced immune responses.
Since PPAR-gamma plays a pivotal role in placental biology and is down-regulated by TFAs, TFAs may be a reversible risk factor for fetal loss.