Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37816026›Full record

ArticlePloS one2023

Metabolic and mitochondrial dysregulation in CD4+ T cells from HIV-positive women on combination anti-retroviral therapy.

Matrona Akiso, Magdalene Ameka, Kewreshini Naidoo, Robert Langat, Janet Kombo, Delories Sikuku, Thumbi Ndung'u, Marcus Altfeld, Omu Anzala, Marianne Mureithi

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 35% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Microbiome-Derived Metabolites Shape CD4bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Immuno-cell metabolic changes in HIV-1 infection.Infectious diseases & immunity · 2025
    Review
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 3 institutions in 4 countries.

Matrona AkisoDepartment of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID 0000-0002-3665-9304
Magdalene AmekaKAVI-Institute of Clinical Research (KAVI-ICR), University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID 0000-0001-5962-8845
Kewreshini NaidooHIV Pathogenesis Programme, The Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Robert LangatKAVI-Institute of Clinical Research (KAVI-ICR), University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID 0000-0001-9142-886X
Janet KomboDepartment of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
Delories SikukuDepartment of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
Thumbi Ndung'uHIV Pathogenesis Programme, The Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Marcus AltfeldInstitute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Omu AnzalaDepartment of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
Marianne MureithiDepartment of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID 0000-0001-9119-3167
University of Nairobi · KEUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal · ZALeibniz Institute of Virology (LIV) · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFor optimal functionality, immune cells require a robust and adaptable metabolic program that is fueled by dynamic mitochondrial activity. In this study, we investigate the metabolic alterations occurring in immune cells during HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy by analyzing the uptake of metabolic substrates and mitochondrial phenotypes. By delineating changes in immune cell metabolic programming during HIV, we may identify novel potential therapeutic targets to improve anti-viral immune responses.

methodsAfter consent and voluntary participation was confirmed, whole blood was drawn from HIV uninfected women and women with chronic HIV infection on long-term combination antiretroviral therapy (HIV/cART). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells-derived immune cells were directly incubated with different fluorescently tagged metabolites and markers of mitochondrial activity: FITC-2-NBDG (2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl) amino]-2-deoxy-D-glucose), FITC-BODIPY (4,4-Difluoro-5,7-Dimethyl-4-Bora-3a,4a-Diaza-s-Indacene-3-Hexadecanoic Acid), FITC-MitoTracker Green and APC-MitoTracker Deep Red. The uptake of glucose and fats and the mitochondrial mass and potential were measured using flow cytometry. All values are reported quantitatively as geometric means of fluorescence intensity.

resultsDuring chronic HIV infection, cellular uptake of glucose increases in HIV+ dendritic cells in particular. CD4+ T cells had the lowest uptake of glucose and fats compared to all other cells regardless of HIV status, while CD8+ T cells took up more fatty acids. Interestingly, despite the lower utilization of glucose and fats in CD4+ T cells, mitochondrial mass increased in HIV+ CD4+ T cells compared to HIV negative CD4+ T-cells. HIV+ CD4+ T cells also had the highest mitochondrial potential.

conclusionsSignificant disparities in the utilization of substrates by leukocytes during chronic HIV/cART exist. Innate immune cells increased utilization of sugars and fats while adaptive immune cells displayed lower glucose and fat utilization despite having a higher mitochondrial activity. Our findings suggest that cART treated HIV-infected CD4+ T cells be dysfunctional or may prefer alternative fuel sources not included in these studies. This underscores the importance of understanding the metabolic effects of HIV treatment on immune function.

Indexed as

CD4-Positive T-LymphocytesHIV InfectionsAntiretroviral Therapy, Highly ActiveCD8-Positive T-LymphocytesFemaleFluorescein-5-isothiocyanateGlucoseHumansLeukocytes, MononuclearFluorescein-5-isothiocyanateGlucose

Identifiers

PMID37816026
PMCPMC10564234
OpenAlexW4387504087

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.