Metabolite profiles of human immunodeficiency virus infected CD4+ T cells and macrophages using LC-MS/MS analysis

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Cell Biology
• Metabolomics

Background:

• Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infects key immune cells, including CD4+ T cells and macrophages.
• Understanding HIV-1's impact on host cell metabolism is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies.
• Previous studies have indicated metabolic reprogramming in HIV-1 infected cells, but cell-type specific differences require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare the metabolic alterations induced by HIV-1 in primary human CD4+ T cells and a macrophage model system.
• To evaluate the utility of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for monitoring HIV-1-driven metabolic changes.

Main Methods:

• Primary human CD4+ T cells were infected with HIV-1.
• A macrophage model system using differentiated U1 (HIV-1 producing) and differentiated U937 (control) cells was established.
• Glucose uptake was measured in both cell types.
• LC-MS/MS-based metabolomic analysis was performed to profile metabolite changes.

Main Results:

• HIV-1 infected CD4+ T cells exhibited increased glucose uptake and elevated levels of several metabolites.
• HIV-1 producing macrophages showed significantly reduced glucose uptake and decreased levels of glycolytic intermediates.
• The study identified distinct metabolic profiles between infected CD4+ T cells and HIV-1 producing macrophages.

Conclusions:

• HIV-1 infection leads to divergent metabolic outcomes in its primary target cell types, CD4+ T cells and macrophages.
• LC-MS/MS is a powerful and effective technology for comprehensively monitoring metabolic alterations during HIV-1 infection.
• These findings highlight the importance of considering cell-type specific metabolic responses in HIV-1 pathogenesis and treatment strategies.