Key result
HIV and long-term cART linked to altered adipokine profiles, including ~41% lower visfatin versus controls.
Why the study?
Alterations in adipokine levels may contribute to metabolic disturbances in people living with HIV receiving combination antiretroviral therapy, but their association with different cART regimens is not well understood.
Do HIV infection and specific cART regimens alter adipokine secretion profiles compared to healthy controls?
Cross-Sectional (n=86)
Do HIV infection and specific cART regimens alter adipokine secretion profiles compared to healthy controls?
HIV infection and specific cART regimens, particularly INSTI-based therapy, are associated with altered adipokine profiles, which may contribute to metabolic disturbances.
May flag adipokine shifts in HIV on cART; leaves open causal links to metabolic risk and requires validation.
This study investigated the impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on adipokine concentrations, which are bioactive molecules secreted by adipose tissue and involved in the regulation of metabolism and inflammation. Alterations in adipokine levels may contribute to the metabolic disturbances observed in people living with HIV. The analyzed adipokine panel included resistin, visfatin, chemerin, angiopoietin-like protein 2 (ANGPTL2), lipocalin-2 (LCN2), Wnt family member 5A (Wnt5a), adiponectin, omentin, vaspin, secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5), and apelin. Blood samples were collected from people living with HIV and HIV-negative control participants. Adipokine concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Patients were further stratified according to their cART regimen, including either protease inhibitor (PI)-based or integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-based therapy. Plasma concentrations of ANGPTL2 and vaspin were significantly higher, whereas concentrations of visfatin, SFRP5, and adiponectin were significantly lower in HIV-infected patients compared with controls. Comparison of patients receiving INSTI- or PI-based regimens with the control group revealed significant differences in visfatin, SFRP5, and adiponectin concentrations. Notably, adiponectin concentrations were significantly lower in the INSTI-treated subgroup than in patients receiving PI-based therapy. These findings suggest that five of the examined adipokines may be associated with HIV infection and cART exposure, potentially contributing to the development of metabolic disturbances in this population. Further studies involving larger cohorts of individuals with HIV receiving long-term cART are required to better elucidate the relationship between adipokine alterations and the risk of treatment-related metabolic complications.
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Szymańska et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in HIV infection (n=86). HIV infection and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) vs. HIV-negative healthy controls was evaluated on Plasma visfatin concentration (ng/mL) (p=<0.001). HIV infection and long-term combination antiretroviral therapy were associated with significantly altered adipokine profiles, including lower visfatin and adiponectin, and higher ANGPTL2 and vaspin concentrations compared to healthy controls.
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