~2.webp "HIV and the Lungs: Unveiling the Link to Pulmonary Hypertension")
While effective treatments allow millions with HIV to live long, healthy lives, they still face challenges like pulmonary hypertension, a life-threatening lung condition. Dr. Sharilyn Almodóvar of Texas Tech University is leading research to understand how HIV contributes to this complication.
Pulmonary hypertension narrows lung arteries, increasing pressure and straining the heart. Left untreated, it can lead to heart failure and death. While rare in the general population, it's more common in people with HIV.
Almodóvar's research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, aims to understand how specific HIV mutations damage communication between cells in the lung arteries, ultimately leading to the condition.
Key aspects of the research include:
- Using humanized mice: These mice mimic human physiology, allowing researchers to study the complex interplay between HIV infection, immune system function, and lung health.
- Monitoring key markers: Viral load, immune cell count, and inflammation markers will be tracked in the mice over time.
- Right heart catheterization: This procedure measures pressure in the lung arteries and assesses heart health in the mice at the study's conclusion.
The research holds promise for:
- Understanding how HIV alters communication between lung cells, leading to pulmonary hypertension.
- Developing new therapies to prevent lung complications in people with HIV.
- Training future generations of scientists to address this critical public health issue.
By unraveling the link between HIV and pulmonary hypertension, researchers like Dr. Almodóvar pave the way for improved health outcomes for individuals living with HIV.
