Abstract
Purpose of Review: People with HIV (PWH) experience premature aging and an elevated risk of age-related comorbidities, even with viral suppression through antiretroviral therapy (ART). We examine gastrointestinal disruptions, specifically impaired intestinal barrier integrity and microbial dysbiosis, as contributors to these comorbidities. Recent Findings: HIV infection compromises the intestinal epithelial barrier, increasing permeability and microbial translocation, which trigger inflammation and cellular stress. ART does not fully restore gut barrier integrity, leading to persistent inflammation and cellular stress. Additionally, HIV-associated microbial dysbiosis favors pro-inflammatory bacteria, intensifying inflammation and tissue damage, which may contribute to premature aging in PWH. Summary: Understanding the interactions between intestinal microbiota, chronic inflammation, cellular stress, and aging is essential to developing therapies aimed at reducing inflammation and slowing age-related diseases in PWH. In this review, we discuss critical knowledge gaps and highlight the therapeutic potential of microbiota-targeted interventions to mitigate inflammation and delay age-associated pathologies in PWH.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 9 |
Journal | Current HIV/AIDS Reports |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2025 |
Funding
M.A-M. is supported by the NIH grants R01AG062383, R01AG062383-04S1, R01NS117458, R01AI165079, R01 DK123733, and R21AI170166. M.A-M is also funded by the NIH-funded BEAT-HIV Martin Delaney Collaboratory to cure HIV-1 infection (1UM1Al126620). A.K and M.A-M are funded by the NIH grants R01AA029859 and R01AA031197.
Keywords
- Aging
- HIV
- Inflammation
- Metabolites
- Microbial Dysbiosis
- Microbial Translocation
- Microbiome
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases