Association of Monocyte Migration Marker CD11b With Pulmonary Function in People Living With HIV

Background: Maladaptive immune responses contribute to the pathogenesis of many chronic lung diseases. Here, we tested hypotheses that CD4 and CD8 T-cell and monocyte phenotypes are associated with lung function in people living with HIV and those without HIV. Methods: Markers of T cell differentiation, activation, exhaustion and senescence, and markers of monocyte recruitment and migration were quantified in 142 HIV-positive and 73 HIV-negative participants of the Pittsburgh HIV Lung Cohort. All participants underwent lung function testing. Results: CD4 or CD8 T-cell phenotypes were not associated with measures of lung function in HIV-positive or HIV-negative participants after adjustment for multiple comparisons. In HIV-positive participants, however, the percentage of classical monocytes that were CD11b(+) had positive associations at the Bonferroni-adjusted significance threshold of P = 0.05/63 with prebronchodilator and postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio (beta = 0.36; P = 0.00003 and beta = 0.31; P = 0.0003, respectively). In stratified analyses of n = 87 participants with CD4 >= 500 cells/mu L, associations of percentage of classical monocytes that were CD11b(+) with prebronchodilator and postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio were stronger (beta = 0.48 and beta = 0.41, for pre- and post-, respectively) than in the entire HIV-positive study population. Significant associations of monocyte phenotypes were not observed in HIV-negative participants after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Conclusions: CD11b(+) expression on classical monocytes is positively associated with FEV1/FVC ratio in people living with HIV including in those with CD4 T-cell recovery. Given the normal surveillance activity of monocytes, such association suggests this monocyte subset may play a role in preservation of pulmonary function in PLWH.

Automated summary

The expression of CD11b(+) on classical monocytes is positively associated with the FEV1/FVC ratio in people living with HIV, especially in those with good CD4 T-cell recovery. This suggests that this specific monocyte subset may play a role in preserving pulmonary function in PLWH.