Brief Report: Adipogenic Expression of Brown Fat Genes in HIV and HIV-Related Parameters

Persons with HIV are at increased risk for adipose dysfunction, which could mediate metabolic complications such as cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, and diabetes. We have previously reported reduced browning and beiging capacity of the subcutaneous adipose depot in HIV.

We sought to evaluate how HIV-related parameters are related to the expression of brown and beige fat genes in the abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Eighteen persons with HIV underwent punch biopsy of abdominal subcutaneous fat to determine mRNA expression of adipose-related genes using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.

Duration of antiretroviral therapy use, particularly related to protease inhibitor use, was significantly related to reduced expression of multiple brown and beige fat genes (including UCP1, PGC1α, PRDM16 and others, all P ≤ 0.04) in the abdominal subcutaneous fat. In addition, duration of HIV and CD4 T-cell count were significantly correlated with reduced expression of multiple brown and beige fat genes in the abdominal subcutaneous fat (PGC1α, P2XR5, TMEM26, CD137, all P ≤ 0.05 for duration of HIV; and PGC1α, ZIC1, PRDM16, PAT2, P2RX5, TMEM26, CD137, all P ≤ 0.04). In contrast, HIV viral load did not correlate with any brown or beige fat genes.

Key HIV-related parameters reflective of nonacute infection (increased duration of HIV and duration of antiretroviral therapy use) or relatively reduced immunologic function (lower CD4 count) were linked to reduced expression of brown and beige fat gene in the abdominal subcutaneous adipose depot.

NCT01098045.