Pilot Study to Evaluate Effects of Atorvastatin on Monocyte Activation in HAART-treated HIV Infected Individuals

Detailed Summary

Activated monocytes play a key role in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Individuals with HAND have expanded populations of activated monocytes. These monocytes are thought to emigrate into the CNS, where they produce neurotoxic proinflammatory factors, and also carry virus into the CNS. Statins are cholesterol lowering drugs with pleiotropic immunomodulatory / anti-inflammatory properties that are currently being explored for immunomodulation of T cell activation in several diseases, in addition to their established role to treat hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. The investigators in vitro data suggests that these drugs can downregulate monocyte activation patterns seen in HIV infection. No in vivo studies have yet been carried out to assess the effects of statins on the pro-inflammatory monocyte population in chronic HIV disease. This will be a pilot study of whether statin treatment will reduce the inflammatory monocyte phenotype and downregulate the inflammatory cytokines that have been linked to neuropathogenesis in HIV infection. If so, they may have potential as adjunctive therapy in HIV-associated neurological disease. The investigators propose to: * Determine the effect of Atorvastatin on peripheral blood monocyte populations in a 12-week pilot study in chronically HIV-infected people on HAART therapy. * Determine the relationship between changes in monocyte phenotype following Atorvastatin treatment, and soluble markers of activation/inflammation linked to neuropathogenesis, as well as activation status of T cells.

Study Details

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