Characterization of the gut microbiota in different immunological responses among PLWH

Despite gut microbial dysbiosis has been demonstrated in people living with HIV (PLWH), the association between gut microbial and inflammatory cytokines in PLWH with different immunoreaction to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to explore between gut microbial and inflammatory cytokines in PLWH with different immunoreaction. 68 PLWH and 27 healthy controls(HCs) in Anhui Province were recruited from December 2021 to March 2022, including 35 immunological responders (IRs) (CD4⁺T-cell count ≥ 350 cells/µL) and 33 immunological non-responders (INRs) (CD4⁺T-cell count < 350 cells/µL) without comorbidities. Blood and stool samples were collected from all participants. Blood was used to detect microbial translocation biomarkers and inflammatory cytokines. Luminex Multifactor Detection Technology was performed to quantify plasma microbial translocation biomarkers and inflammation cytokines. Bacterial 16S rDNA sequencing was performed on stool samples. Microbiome sequencing revealed that the relative abundances of Fusobacteria, Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobiaceae Acidaminococcaceae, Fusobacteriaceae and Megasphaera were greater, whereas Verrucomicrobia, Ruminococcaceae, Megamonas, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia and Dialister were more depleted in the HIV groups than those in the HCs (all P < 0.05). In the INRs group, the relative abundances of Actinomycetales, Micrococcaceae, Actinomyces, Intestinibacter, Rothia were greater (all P < 0.05), whereas Sutterellaceae, Parabacteroides, Veillonella, Butyricimonas resulted less abundant than in the IRs (all P < 0.05). TNF-ɑ are negatively correlated with the abundances of Dialiste (P = 0.022). CD54 are negatively correlated with Dialister and Subdoligranulum (P = 0.011). Recent and baseline CD4⁺T cells counts are directly proportional to Butyricimonas and Parabacteroides, while are inversely proportional with Veillonella and Rothia (all P < 0.05). Dysbiosis of the gut microbial might be one of the factors leading to the different immunoreaction and therapeutic effects of ART.