Plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide correlate with insulin resistance in HIV patients

Background: In HIV patients using HAART insulin resistance is a central pathophysiological condition that can contribute to the development of diabetes and cardiovascular complications. To examine the role of adipocyte hormones and LPS in insulin resistance in HIV patients, we investigated the role of adiponectin, leptin, visfatin and LPS levels in the insulin resistance of HIV-infected patients treated with HAART. Methods: This study included 67 HIV positive individuals on HAART and ten healthy controls. All participants performed plasma or serum levels of glucose; insulin; lipids, visfatin, leptin, adiponectin, and LPS. The homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR), was used to estimate insulin resistance. Results: The levels of visfatin, leptin and adiponectin were similar between controls and HIV patients. However, circulating levels of LPS were higher in HIV patients on HAART than in controls. There was a positive correlation between LPS and TG (r = 0.49, p = 0.0001), between LPS and TG/HDL (r = 0.50, p = 0.0001), between LPS and insulin (r = 0.52, p = 0.0003), and between LPS and HOMA-IR (r = 0.52, p = 0.0005), in HIV patients. Conclusions: Our results showed a clear correlation between plasma LPS and markers of insulin resistance, suggesting a relationship between LPS levels and metabolic alterations, particularly affecting lipids and insulin resistance in HIV patients.