Association between subclinical atherosclerosis and NLRP3 rs10157379 and rs10754558 genetic variants, inflammatory, and metabolic biomarkers in HIV-1 infection.

The NLRP3 inflammasome, along with inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers, has been implicated in atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the association between subclinical atherosclerosis and NLRP3 rs10157379 T > C and rs10754558 C > G variants, inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers, and HIV-1 viral load in individuals living with HIV-1 infection. Seventy-eight HIV-1-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy were included. Demographic, lifestyle, clinical data, inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte counts, HIV-1 viral load, and NLRP3 rs10157379 and rs10754558 genotypes were determined. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was assessed and categorized as <0.9 mm (normal) or ≥ 0.9 mm (increased). The median age of the HIV-1-infected patients was 52 years (45-56) and 34 (43.6%) of them presented increased cIMT. After adjustment with age, sex, ethnicity, smoking, and metabolic syndrome, only non-Caucasian ethnicity, metabolic syndrome, CD4+ T cell count <500 cells/mm3, use of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, high levels of interleukin 10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were associated with increased cIMT (p < 0.05). No association was observed between cIMT and NLRP3 rs10157379 and rs10754558 variants. Patients carrying the GG genotype showed lower uric acid, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, and higher adiponectin levels (p < 0.05), suggesting a more favorable metabolic and inflammatory profile. The prevalence of a 43.6% of increased cIMT is particularly relevant because participants with established atherosclerotic disease were excluded, indicating a high burden of subclinical atherosclerosis. These exploratory genetic findings require confirmation in larger cohorts to clarify these observations and identify additional biomarkers for early subclinical atherosclerosis detection in individuals living with HIV-1.