Serum adiponectin in HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus mono- and co-infected Kenyan injection drug users

Abstract

Adiponectin is an important marker of anthropometric profiles of adipose tissue. However, association of adiponectin and adiposity in HIV mono- and co-infected and hepatitis (HCV) injection drug users (IDUs) has not been elucidated. Therefore, the relationship of total adiponectin levels with anthropometric indices of adiposity was examined in HIV mono-infected (anti-retroviral treatment, ART-naive, n=16 and -experienced, n=34); HCV mono-infected, n=36; HIV and HCV co-infected (ART-naive, n=5 and -experienced, n=13); uninfected, n=19 IDUs; and healthy controls, n=16 from coastal Kenya. Anthropometric indices of adiposity were recorded and total circulating adiponectin levels were measured in serum samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Adiponectin levels differed significantly amongst the study groups (P<0.0001). Post-hoc analyses revealed decreased levels in HIV mono-infected ART-naive IDUs in comparison to uninfected IDUs (P<0.05) and healthy controls (P<0.05). However, adiponectin levels were elevated in HCV mono-infected IDUs relative to HIV mono-infected ART-naive (P<0.001) and -experienced (P<0.001) as well as HIV and HCV co-infected ART-naive (P<0.05) IDUs. Furthermore, adiponectin correlated with weight (ρ=0.687; P=0.003) and BMI (ρ=0.598; P=0.014) in HIV mono-infected ART-naive IDUs; waist circumference (ρ=−0.626; P<0.0001), hip (ρ=−0.561; P=0.001) circumference, and bust-to-waist ratio (ρ=0.561; P=0.001) in HIV mono-infected ART-experienced IDUs; waist girth (ρ=0.375; P=0.024) in HCV mono-infected IDUs; and waist-to-hip ratio (ρ=−0.872; P=0.048) in HIV and HCV co-infected ART-naive IDUs. Altogether, these results suggest suppression of adiponectin production in treatment-naive HIV mono-infected IDUs and that circulating adiponectin is a useful surrogate marker of altered adiposity in treatment-naive and -experienced HIV and HCV mono- and co-infected IDUs.

Functional Haplotypes in the ADIPOQ Gene are Associated with Underweight, Immunosuppression and Viral Suppression in Kenyan HIV-1 Infected Antiretroviral Treatment Naive and Experienced Injection Substance Users

“…Consistent with our previous study ( 20 ), ART-naive ISUs had higher serum adiponectin levels suggesting that ART could directly or indirectly be causing lower levels of circulating adiponectin. Previous studies have associated ART use with low levels of serum adiponectin in HIV infected individuals.…”

“…However, there is limited data on how ADIPOQ gene polymorphisms influence these markers of disease progression among HIV-1 ISUs. We have previously shown that serum adiponectin levels are low in HIV-1 ART-naive ISUs from coastal Kenya ( 20 ). In addition, injection substance use leads to epigenetic modifications in gene expression and causes alterations in the DNA sequences ( 17 ).…”

Hepatic steatosis in HCV-infected persons in the direct-acting antiviral era

“…Older antiretrovirals such as stavudine appear more likely to contribute to steatosis than the more commonly used agents today [ 75 ]. In addition, decreased adiponectin with HIV infection may contribute to the increased steatosis [ 76 ]. Thus, lipid deposition in the liver is increased in HIV infection.…”