HIV lymphoid tissue fibrosis occurs in the earliest stages of acute HIV infection and is associated with macrophage-derived TGF-β
Jodi L. Anderson, Carlo Sacdalan, Somchai Sriplienchan, Nittaya Phanuphak, Kevin Escandón-Vargas, Garritt Wieking, Erika S. Helgeson, Caitlin David, Jeffrey G. Chipman, Alexandra Schuetz, Sandhya Vasan, Daniel C. Douek, Timothy W. Schacker
The paper shows HIV causes collagen deposition in lymphoid tissue early in infection, linked to TGF-β+ macrophages and HIV RNA-producing cells, suggesting early ART may not prevent fibrosis.
bioRxiv · Feb 3, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology