Among older adults, age-related changes in the stool microbiome differ by HIV-1 serostatusResearch in context
Jay Liu,
Rachel Johnson,
Stephanie Dillon,
Miranda Kroehl,
Daniel N. Frank,
Yunus E. Tuncil,
Xiaowei Zhang,
Diana Ir,
Charles E. Robertson,
Sharon Seifert,
Janine Higgins,
Bruce Hamaker,
Cara C. Wilson,
Kristine M. Erlandson
Affiliations
Jay Liu
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
Rachel Johnson
Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA
Stephanie Dillon
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
Miranda Kroehl
Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA
Daniel N. Frank
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
Yunus E. Tuncil
Food Engineering Department, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey; Department of Food Science, Purdue University, Lafayette, IN, USA
Xiaowei Zhang
Department of Food Science, Purdue University, Lafayette, IN, USA
Diana Ir
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
Charles E. Robertson
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
Sharon Seifert
Department of Pharmacology, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
Janine Higgins
Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
Bruce Hamaker
Department of Food Science, Purdue University, Lafayette, IN, USA
Cara C. Wilson
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
Kristine M. Erlandson
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Corresponding author at: 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Mail Stop B168, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
Background: HIV-1 infection and physiological aging are independently linked to elevated systemic inflammation and changes in enteric microbial communities (dysbiosis). However, knowledge of the direct effect of HIV infection on the aging microbiome and potential links to systemic inflammation is lacking. Methods: In a cross-sectional study of older people living with HIV (PLWH) (median age 61.5 years, N = 14) and uninfected controls (median 58 years, n = 22) we compared stool microbiota, levels of microbial metabolites (short-chain fatty acid levels, SCFA) and systemic inflammatory biomarkers by HIV serostatus and age. Findings: HIV and age were independently associated with distinct changes in the stool microbiome. For example, abundances of Enterobacter and Paraprevotella were higher and Eggerthella and Roseburia lower among PLWH compared to uninfected controls. Age-related microbiome changes also differed by HIV serostatus. Some bacteria with inflammatory potential (e.g. Escherichia) increased with age among PLWH, but not controls. Stool SCFA levels were similar between the two groups yet patterns of associations between individual microbial taxa and SCFA levels differed. Abundance of various genera including Escherichia and Bifidobacterium positively associated with inflammatory biomarkers (e.g. soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptors) among PLWH, but not among controls. Interpretation: The age effect on the gut microbiome and associations between microbiota and microbial metabolites or systemic inflammation differed based on HIV serostatus, raising important implications for the impact of therapeutic interventions, dependent on HIV serostatus or age. Keywords: Aging, HIV, Microbiome, Inflammation, Short chain fatty acids (SCFA)
