# Metabolic deficits and immune dysfunction in aging people living with HIV

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $619,511

## Abstract

Aging and HIV are characterized by systemic chronic inflammation (inflammaging) and chronic immune
activation (IA), both associated with cell senescence, functional impairment of immune cells and reduced
immunity to infections and vaccines. Aging and HIV are also associated with metabolic changes such as
decreased insulin sensitivity, dysregulated nutrient uptake and dysfunctional mitochondria. As a consequence
of these changes, metabolites involved in glucose and fatty acid metabolism are released in blood. Some of
these metabolites have been shown to be positively associated with inflammaging and therefore expected to be
also associated with dysfunctional immunity. In people living with HIV (PWH) metabolic abnormalities have been
related to virus-induced irreversible tissue damage in viremic individuals, as well as to anti-retroviral therapy
(ART)-induced effects in virally suppressed individuals.
 Immune cells need to undergo metabolic reprogramming to meet the demands associated with immune
responses, and rely on anaerobic glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation to do so. The effects of aging in PWH
on these pathways and on the metabolic mechanisms involved in the regulation of immune cell function are
largely unknown and are the primary objectives of this proposal. Our hypothesis, supported by strong preliminary
results, is that aging exacerbates immune defects through a dysregulated metabolic reprogramming and this
effect is even more pronounced in PWH. Our studies have demonstrated that a higher metabolic status of
immune cells is associated with higher intrinsic IA and lower capacity to generate protective immunity.
 This proposal will use data and samples from the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS) of PWH
and age- gender- and sociodemographically matched people without HIV (PWoH). We plan to evaluate how
aging influences the serum metabolic profile of PWH and how this impacts the function, phenotype and
transcriptional profiles of B cells, T cells and monocytes, the major cell types participating in immune responses
to infections and vaccines. The role played by gut microbial metabolism on metabolic status will also be evaluated
(Aim 1); we will investigate the metabolic mechanisms as well as metabolic requirements of the immune cells
(Aim 2); and we will perform experiments using senolytics and metabolic modifiers to block senescent and
metabolic pathways and improve, at least in vitro, immune cell function (Aim 3). Because obesity is a condition
associated with altered metabolism, experiments will use samples from lean and obese PWH of different ages,
as evaluated by body composition measures such as weight, waist/hip/thigh circumference, and bioelectrical
impedance analysis to assess body fat amounts and depots. Younger (<50 years) and older (>60 years) lean
and obese PWoH will also be included as controls. Results obtained will allow the identification of senescent and
metabolic pathways to be targeted to improve the immune fun...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11008239
- **Project number:** 1R01AG086071-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** DANIELA FRASCA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $619,511
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-01 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11008239

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11008239, Metabolic deficits and immune dysfunction in aging people living with HIV (1R01AG086071-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11008239. Licensed CC0.

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