ITIH4 and HIV infectious disease: Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of HIV infection and is strongly associated with pulmonary dysfunction.[6,7] This inflammation may be due to persistent antigen stimulation, microbial translocation by disruption of the gut mucosa, co-infections, and/or cumulative ART toxicity[8,9]; HIV infection is associated with lymphocytic alveolitis,[10] and HIV gp120 can cause airway damage,[11] suggesting that HIV persistence could directly stimulate pulmonary inflammation.