Background: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic affects about 36 million people worldwide. HIV patients are exposed to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). More people die from CVD each year than any other disease. Considering that HIV therapies do not significantly improve CVD risk factors, better characterization of the metabolic interplay between HIV and CVD is needed.
Methods: Serum of 75 HIV positive and 148 HIV negative participants of the PURE (Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology) study were analyzed and compared using a GCxGC-TOFMS metabolomics research approach. Using various univariate and multivariate statistical approaches, those compounds which significantly differed between the compared groups were correlated with CVD markers.
Results: Various amino acid and lipid metabolic pathways are altered in the HIV positive samples comparatively. Kynurenine was elevated in HIV positive samples and additionally correlated positively with suPAR and negatively with HDL.
Conclusion: Inflammation is a mediator for an altered metabolite profile and CVD in HIV positive individuals.