Effects of HIV Infection in Plasma Free Fatty Acid Profiles among People with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Despite its high prevalence, the mechanisms underlying non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in people living with HIV (PLWH) are still unclear. In this prospective cohort study, we aim to evaluate differences in plasma fatty acid profiles between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected participants with NAFLD. We included participants diagnosed with NAFLD, both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected. Fatty acid methyl esters were measured from plasma samples. Ratios ([product]/[substrate]) were used to estimate desaturases and elongases activity. We used linear regression for adjusted analyses. We included 31 PLWH and 22 HIV-uninfected controls. We did not find differences in the sum of different types of FA or in FA with a greater presence of plasma. However, there were significant differences in the distribution of some FA, with higher concentrations of ALA, trans-palmitoleic, and behenic acids, and a lower concentration of lignoceric acid in PLWH. PLWH had lower C24:0/C22:0 and C16:0/C14:0 ratios, which estimates the activity of elongases ELOVL1 and ELOVL6. Both groups had similar fatty acid distribution, despite differences in traditional risk factors. PLWH had a lower proportion of specific ratios that estimate ELOVL1 and ELOVL6 activity, which had been previously described for other inflammatory conditions, such as psoriasis.

Global DNA methylation and telomere length as markers of accelerated aging in people living with HIV and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

“…Related to HIV infection, differential DNA methylation has been previously described, and epigenetic clocks have been established to understand this difference in PLWH [ 6 , 26 , 46 , 47 ]. Furthermore, as determined previously by our group, there are differences in the plasma-free fatty acid profiles and in some genetic variants of PLWH [ 48 ]. Therefore, quantifying these senescence markers should be a priority because of the likelihood of unforeseen events arising in this population.…”

Chewing the fat: How lipidomics is changing our understanding of human health and disease in 2022

“…Due to the elevated risk of mortality with these diseases, there is a need for strategies in its identification, prevention, and treatment within healthcare. In 2022, as evidenced in Figure 5, the bulk of research articles focussed on related diseases: CVD, 232–255 diabetes, 166,233,249,250,256–278 liver disease, 51,279–293 MetS 277,294,295 and obesity 277,295–305 …”

“…Bibliometric analyses of clinical lipidomics publications in 2022 according to separation techniques, detectors, and RPLC columns used …”

“…Bibliometric analyses of clinical lipidomics publications in 2022 using Scopus search terms “lipidomics” AND “clinic*” on 15 th December 2022 …”

“…,51,[279][280][281][282][283][284][285][286][287][288][289][290][291][292][293] MetS277,294,295 and obesity 277,[295][296][297][298][299][300][301][302][303][304][305]. Coleman et al investigated the pathogenesis and involvement of the gastrointestinal tract with the syndrome through multiple experiments including an untargeted RPLC-MS/MS analysis of faecal samples of people with MetS and healthy controls.…”