How gut T cell energy use affects HIV hiding and reactivation
Impact of metabolic programing of T cells from the GI tract and related tissues on HIV reservoir seeding, maintenance and reactivation
This work tests whether changing how immune cells in the gut use energy affects where HIV hides and whether it can wake up in people living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143230 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will collect immune cells from the gut and related tissues (and likely blood or fat) to measure cellular metabolism, immune activation, and markers of hidden HIV. Lab experiments will examine how different metabolic programs influence a cell’s susceptibility to infection, persistence of infected cells, and the ability of latent virus to reactivate. The team will compare samples from people on suppressive ART and use laboratory models to test interventions that shift cell metabolism. Results will be used to identify metabolic pathways that could be targeted to reduce the HIV reservoir.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV who are on stable antiretroviral therapy and willing to provide blood and tissue samples (for example, gut biopsies or adipose tissue) would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People not living with HIV, those not on suppressive ART, or those unwilling/unable to give the required tissue samples are unlikely to directly participate or benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal metabolic or dietary strategies to shrink the hidden HIV reservoir and reduce the chance of viral rebound off therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and early human work suggests metabolism influences viral persistence and inflammation, but using metabolic interventions to reduce the HIV reservoir remains largely experimental.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Apetrei, Cristian — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Apetrei, Cristian
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.