Insulin resistance in HIV-infected patients: relationship with pro-inflammatory cytokines released by peripheral leukocytes.
OBJECTIVE
Abnormalities of insulin sensitivity are increasingly reported in HIV infection. Considering that cytokines (particularly TNF-alpha and IL-1beta) can induce insulin resistance in infections, we investigated the relationship between insulin sensitivity and cytokine release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in HIV-infected patients.


METHODS
Fourteen HIV-positive patients treated with dual-NRTI (nucleosidic reverse transcriptase inhibitors) regimens, and fourteen healthy controls were studied. Insulin resistance was assessed by homeostatic model for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Cytokine production by PBMCs ex vivo was measured.


RESULTS
Plasma glucose levels did not differ in HIV patients and in controls. Insulin concentrations and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in HIV-infected patients than in controls (respectively, 11.4+/-4.3 vs. 7.86+/-1.1mIU, P=0.005; 2.27+/-0.91 vs. 1.6+/-0.2, P=0.025). A significant positive linear correlation was observed between HOMA-IR and TNF-alpha concentrations in the supernatants of unstimulated PBMC cultures in HIV patients (r=0.771;P=0.001), but not in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results are in accordance with previous findings showing that insulin resistance may indeed be present in PI-naive HIV patients, and suggest that either TNF-alpha, or other mediators released in parallel with this cytokine may induce a state of insulin resistance, unrelated to highly active antiviral treatments, in poorly controlled HIV disease.
Limone
Paolo
P
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
Biglino
Alberto
A
Valle
Mauro
M
Degioanni
Maria
M
Paola Servato
Maria
M
Berardi
Clara
C
Del Rizzo
Paola
P
Pellissetto
Cristina
C
Carlo Isaia
Giovanni
G
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D007375:Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D006854:Hydrocortisone