MacLeod, IainRowley, ChristopherLockman, ShahinOgwu, AnthonyMoyo, Sikhulilevan Widenfelt, ErikMmalane, MompatiMakhema, JosephEssex, MyronShapiro, Roger2013-04-252012MacLeod, Iain J., Christopher F. Rowley, Shahin Lockman, Anthony Ogwu, Sikhulile Moyo, Erik van Widenfelt, Mompati Mmalane, Joseph Makhema, M. Essex, and Roger L. Shapiro. 2012. Abacavir alters the transcription of inflammatory cytokines in virologically suppressed, HIV-infected women. Journal of the International AIDS Society 15(2): 17393.1758-2652http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:10587998Background: Abacavir (ABC) may be associated with a small, increased risk of myocardial infarction in HIV-infected adults, possibly related to cytokine-mediated inflammation. Methods: To evaluate the induction of inflammatory cytokine transcription by ABC, we used samples from women randomized to receive zidovudine/lamivudine/ABC (Trizivir) or lopinavir/ritonavir and zidovudine/lamividine (Kaletra/Combivir) from the third trimester through six-months postpartum for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). Women were matched by CD4 count and baseline HIV RNA. All women attained viral suppression (<50 copies/ml) by the time of sampling. Results: Four cytokines showed a difference in expression between the treatment arms, all in a proinflammatory direction for the ABC arm: CD40LG 1.82-fold, (p=.027); IL-8 3.16-fold (p=.020); LTA 2.82-fold, (p=.008); and CCL5 −1.67-fold, (p=.035). At 12-months postpartum, 6-months after antiretroviral discontinuation, cytokine expression was similar by treatment arm. Conclusions: We conclude that ABC may upregulate proinflammatory cytokines at the transcriptional level in this population.en-USHIVabacavircytokinetranscriptionantiretroviralinflammationAIDSJournal Article2013-04-2510.7448/IAS.15.2.17393