Unique Gut Microbiome in HIV Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Suggests Association with Chronic Inflammation

Authors: Aya Ishizaka, Michiko Koga, Taketoshi Mizutani, Prince Kofi Parbie, Diki Prawisuda, Nozomi Yusa, Ayako Sedohara, Tadashi Kikuchi, Kazuhiko Ikeuchi, Eisuke Adachi, Tomohiko Koibuchi, Yoichi Furukawa, Arinobu Tojo, Seiya Imoto, Yutaka Suzuki, Takeya Tsutsumi, Hiroshi Kiyono, Tetsuro Matano, Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi - Microbiology Spectrum 2021 cited by 93

T-cell depletion, the role of HIV-associated imbalance of gut microbiome in chronic inflammation is unclear. Here, we aimed to understand the causal relationship between abnormalities in the gut microbiome and chronic inflammation in patients with HIV. Our results suggest HIV-associated gut dysbiosis presents a more aerobic environment than that of healthy individuals, despite prolonged viral suppression. This dysbiosis likely results from a sustained increase in intestinal permeability, which supports sustained bacterial translocation in HIV patients, despite effective therapy. Additionally, we observed that several bacterial taxa enriched in HIV patients were associated with increased expression of inflammatory cytokines. Collectively, these results suggest that gut dysbiosis plays an important role in chronic inflammation in HIV patients.