The HIV, Adipose Tissue Immunology, and Metabolism Study

Study Summary

With the introduction of effective anti-retroviral therapy (ART), HIV-infected persons can now survive for decades, but this success has been accompanied by an increased risk of developing metabolic disease and diabetes in HIV-infected persons compared to the general population. Recent studies from HIV-negative subjects have identified several associations between circulating immune cell populations and impaired glucose tolerance, including increased activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and reduced regulatory T cells. Of note, these same changes in peripheral T cell subsets are frequently observed in patients with chronic HIV infection. The goal of this study is to assess whether the circulating T cell distribution is reflective of the adipose tissue T cell distribution, and to understand whether chronic adipose tissue T cell activation may impair adipocyte (i.e., fat cell) function and insulin sensitivity. If the investigators' hypotheses are correct, this will demonstrate that chronic peripheral immune activation (i.e., high memory T cells, low naïve cells, and increased expression of activation surface markers) is associated with greater adipose-resident CD4+ and CD8+ T cell expression of activation markers, adipose tissue inflammation, and insulin resistance.

Primary Outcome

Flow cytometry measurement of adipose tissue T cell surface marker phenotypes and sequencing of T cell receptors, compared by HIV and diabetes status

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• RADIATION CT scan
• DIAGNOSTIC_TEST Oral glucose tolerance test
• DIAGNOSTIC_TEST Blood collection
• PROCEDURE Subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsy

Study Locations (1)