Early HIV-1 infection is characterized by enhanced tryptophan catabolism, which contributes to immune suppression and disease progression. However, the mechanism by which kynurenine, a tryptophan-related metabolite, induces immune suppression remains poorly understood. Herein, we show that the increased production of kynurenine correlates with defective interleukin-2 (IL-2) signaling in memory CD4 T cells from HIV-infected subjects. Defective IL-2 signaling in these subjects, which drives reduced protection from Fas-mediated apoptosis, was also associated with memory CD4 T-cell loss. Treatment of memory CD4 T cells with the concentration of kynurenine found in plasma inhibited IL-2 signaling through the production of reactive oxygen species. We further show that IL-2 signaling in memory CD4 T cells is improved by the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy restored the IL-2 response in memory CD4 T cells by reducing reactive oxygen species and kynurenine production. The study findings provide a kynurenine-dependent mechanism through IL-2 signaling for reduced CD4 T-cell survival, which can be reversed by early treatment initiation in HIV-1 infection. IMPORTANCE The persistence of functional memory CD4 T cells represents the basis for long-lasting immune protection in individuals after exposure to HIV-1. Unfortunately, primary HIV-1 infection results in the massive loss of these cells within weeks of infection, which is mainly driven by inflammation and massive infection by the virus. These new findings show that the enhanced production of kynurenine, a metabolite related to tryptophan catabolism, also impairs memory CD4 T-cell survival and interferes with IL-2 signaling early during HIV-1 infection.P rogressive depletion of CD4 T cells by pyroptosis and activation-related apoptosis is the hallmark of HIV-1 infection (1-4). The loss of memory CD4 T cells and, in particular, central memory CD4 T cells (T CM cells), which are critical to ensure longlasting immune protection, occurs from the onset of infection and independently predicts disease progression (5-8). Memory T-cell survival depends on signals provided by the gamma-chain-receptor cytokines, such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-7 (9-12). Previous data showed an impaired response to these cytokines in T cells during HIV-1 infection (13-16). However, our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms responsible for these immune defects is still incomplete.CD4 T-cell depletion is also linked with persistent inflammation, which takes place in the gut and lymphoid tissues early after infection and in the bloodstream later after infection (17-19). This inflammation is clinically relevant, since it has not been fully abrogated by long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) (20)(21)(22)(23). Persistent inflammation during HIV-1 infection is associated with enhanced metabolic activity, which drives a Warburg-like effect on lipid, glucose, and amino acid pathways (22,(24)(25)(26)(27). The catabolism of an essential amino acid like tryptoph...

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Abstract. HIV-1 infection results in long-lasting activation of the immune system including elevated production of pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokines, and bacterial product release from gut into blood and tissue compartments, which are not fully restored by antiretroviral therapies. HIV-1 has also developed numerous strategies via viral regulatory proteins to hijack cell molecular mechanisms to enhance its own replication and dissemination. Here, we reviewed the relationship between viral proteins, immune activation/inflammation, and deregulated metabolism occurring in HIV-1-infected patients that ultimately dampens the protective innate and adaptive arms of immunity.Defining precisely the molecular mechanisms related to deregulated immuno-metabolism during HIV-1 infection could ultimately help in the development of novel clinical approaches to restore proper immune functions in these patients.