Soluble P-selectin as an inflammatory mediator potentially influencing endothelial activation in people living with HIV in sub-rural areas of Limpopo, South Africa.

ObjectivesThere is a growing need to understand the potential role of soluble platelet selectin (sP-selectin) in sustained endothelial activation through increased levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular adhesion-1 (sVCAM-1) in people living with HIV (PLWH) on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).MethodologyThis was a cross-sectional study involving PLWH on HAART (n = 55), in comparison to PLWH not on treatment (HAART-naïve) (n = 29), and (iii) HIV negative controls (n = 48) from the Mankweng area in the Limpopo province, South Africa. We quantified serum levels of sP-selectin, together with sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1. Most of the HAART-exposed group were on treatment for ResultsSoluble P-selectin was positively correlated with sVCAM-1 (r = 0.469; pConclusionThere is a need for more studies to investigate the role of sP-selectin in promoting endothelial activation and CVD-risk in PLWH on HAART, especially within the sub-Saharan Africa region.