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. 2024 Feb 19;16(2):313.
doi: 10.3390/v16020313.

Metabolic Alterations in Mothers Living with HIV and Their HIV-Exposed, Uninfected Infants

Louise D V du Toit  1   2   3 , Shayne Mason  4 , Mari van Reenen  4 , Theresa M Rossouw  1   2   3 , Roan Louw  4
Affiliations

Metabolic Alterations in Mothers Living with HIV and Their HIV-Exposed, Uninfected Infants

Louise D V du Toit et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

HIV-exposed, uninfected (HEU) children present with suboptimal growth and a greater susceptibility to infection in early life when compared to HIV-unexposed, uninfected (HUU) children. The reasons for these findings are poorly understood. We used a metabolomics approach to investigate the metabolic differences between pregnant women living with HIV (PWLWH) and their HEU infants compared to the uninfected and unexposed controls. Untargeted metabolomic profiling was performed using 1H-NMR spectroscopy on maternal plasma at 28 weeks' gestation and infant plasma at birth, 6/10 weeks, and 6 months. PWLWH were older but, apart from a larger 28 week mid-upper-arm circumference, anthropometrically similar to the controls. At all the time points, HEU infants had a significantly reduced growth compared to HUU infants. PWLWH had lower plasma 3-hydroxybutyric acid, acetoacetic acid, and acetic acid levels. In infants at birth, threonine and myo-inositol levels were lower in the HEU group while formic acid levels were higher. At 6/10 weeks, betaine and tyrosine levels were lower in the HEU group. Finally, at six months, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid levels were lower while glycine levels were higher in the HEU infants. The NMR analysis has provided preliminary information indicating differences between HEU and HUU infants' plasma metabolites involved in energy utilization, growth, and protection from infection.

Keywords: HEU; HIV-exposed uninfected; NMR; infant health; metabolomics; profile.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The metabolites differentially expressed in plasma in mothers living with HIV compared to controls. Three metabolites, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, acetoacetic acid, and acetic acid, were lower in the PWLWH compared to the HIV-uninfected mothers at 28 weeks’ gestation. Image created in BioRender.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Metabolites are differentially expressed in plasma HEU and HUU infants. In infants at birth, threonine and myo-inositol levels were lower in the HEU group and formic acid levels were higher. At 6 or 10 weeks, betaine and tyrosine levels were lower in the HEU group. Finally, at six months, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid levels were lower, while glycine levels were higher in the HEU infants. The figure also indicates the potential effects of the metabolite differences on the systemic functions of the study participants. Image created in BioRender.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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