Plasma CD16⁺Extracellular Vesicles Associate with Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness in HIV⁺Adults on Combination Antiretroviral Therapy

Abstract

HIV-infected individuals have a 2-fold-increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared with the general population, yet the mechanisms underlying this comorbidity are unclear. Extracellular vesicles have emerged as important mediators in cell-cell communication and, given what we know of their biology, may drive inflammation contributing to cardiovascular disease in this vulnerable population.