Pneumocystis in Pathogenesis of HIV-associated Emphysema

We propose that Pneumocystis accelerates emphysema in HIV-infected smokers by stimulating inflammation and tissue destruction. This grant will examine the role of co-infection with Pneumocystis in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated emphysema and the mechanism by which it causes emphysema progression. These studies will lead to information that will provide a rational basis for prevention and therapy of HIV-associated emphysema and provide a model for emphysema in the general population

antiretroviral therapy (HAART), impressive declines in morbidity and mortality from HIV have been seen [18]. These improvements do not constitute a cure, however; and over 400,000 people are currently living with HIV in the United States and there are 40 million people infected worldwide. With improved treatment and increases in life expectancy, incidence of other types of lung diseases such as HIV-associated emphysema and pulmonary hypertension may become more common. Respiratory symptoms are extremely common in the HIV-infected population, even among those without a history of pulmonary infections. HIV-infected subjects have been noted to have an accelerated form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)/emphysema [4, 5]. This disease is seen in those with untreated HIV disease and may become more common in the treated HIV population as it has frequently been reported in those without a history of AIDS-related pulmonary complications.

Smoking-related diseases such as emphysema are of particular concern in the HIV+ population. Smoking rates are high in this population and long term exposure to cigarette smoke in the setting of HIV infection may increase the number of complications seen. Smoking in the HIV+ population is associated with worse general health, physical functioning, quality of life, and cognitive functioning Before the HAART era, HIV+ subjects were noted to have an accelerated form of emphysema. Unlike many of the AIDS-defining opportunistic infections, HIV-associated emphysema may actually be more common in the current era of HIV as it is frequently reported in those without a history of AIDS-related pulmonary complications and because the aging HIV+ population has a longer exposure to smoking and HIV. HIV-associated emphysema was identified as a critical area for future research by a recent NIH workshop on pulmonary complications of HIV.

Whether emphysema continues to be increased in the HIV+ population in the HAART era is unknown. We hypothesize that emphysema may actually have increased as subjects live longer with chronic pulmonary exposure to the virus, to smoking, and to the inflammation that occurs in even treated HIV+ patients. We believe that prevalence will be increased compared to HIV- controls and that progression will be accelerated. Assessment of degree of emphysema and its distribution can be accomplished using quantitative CT morphometry density analysis. This technique measures lung density by pixel analysis expressed in Hounsfield units (HU) or its inverse (ml of gas/gram of tissue) which increases proportionately with the magnitude of emphysema. These measurements have been histologically-verified and give quantitative, reproducible measurements of percentage and distribution of lung considered normal, mildly emphysematous, and severely emphysematous. By adding the lung images to this protocol, we will be maximizing the information gained from this study with minimal increases in risk or subject inconvenience.

Pneumocystis jirovecii Based on our preliminary data in humans and primates, we believe that Pneumocystis (Pc) is one infectious agent that is critical in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated emphysema. Pneumocystis jirovecii (formerly known as Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. hominis)[19] is a eukaryotic pathogen that causes pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts. Despite the fact that PCP is responsible for a large degree of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed populations, little is understood about the organism's epidemiology. The recent development of molecular techniques to identify and genotype Pc has provided an important tool with which to explore the epidemiology of the organism. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detects low numbers of organisms, particularly in cases where routine histochemical staining methods are negative [21, 22]. Use of PCR, particularly nested PCR, for detection of Pc has led to discovery of the organism among asymptomatic subjects. The rate of colonization in asymptomatic HIV-infected subjects appears to be higher than that seen in the general population with estimates ranging from 12 to 46% depending on the subject population and respiratory samples studied [11, 12, 14, 16, 22].