TY - JOUR
T1 - Microbiota, Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy, and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Transgender Women with HIV
T2 - Potential Implications for Cardiovascular Disease
AU - Glynn, Tiffany R.
AU - Broedlow, Courtney A.
AU - Rodriguez, Violeta
AU - Nogueira, Nicholas Fonseca
AU - Londono, Valeria
AU - Brophy, Theodora
AU - Pallikkuth, Suresh
AU - Roach, Margaret
AU - Pahwa, Savita
AU - Fein, Lydia A.
AU - Hurwitz, Barry E.
AU - Jones, Deborah
AU - Alcaide, Maria L.
AU - Klatt, Nichole
AU - Martinez, Claudia
N1 - This study was supported by funding from the Miami Center for AIDS Research (P30AI073961). T.R.G.\u2019s time was supported by NIAID T32AI007433, NIDA K23DA060719, and NIDA L60DA059128.
PY - 2024/12/26
Y1 - 2024/12/26
N2 - Purpose: The intersecting disparities of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among transgender women have raised questions about the role of the gut microbiota and gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) in the pathogenesis of CVD in the context of HIV. The purpose of this study was to provide an early exploration of the associations between these possible mechanisms driving inflammatory CVD risk markers among transgender women with HIV. Methods: We conducted a preliminary study with 21 transgender women with HIV exploring the relationship between GAHT use (self-report), gut/rectal microbiota composition (rectal swabs), and inflammatory markers linked to CVD (plasma). Microbiota measures included alpha (richness, evenness, and Shannon diversity) and beta (Bray-Curtis, un/weighted UniFrac) diversity metrics. Inflammatory biomarkers included intestinal fatty-acid binding protein, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, soluble CD163, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa), soluble TNF receptor I (sTNF-I), sTNF-II, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-1b, IL-1a, soluble CD14, d-dimer (domain dimer), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Wilcoxon rank sum test, log-level regression, Spearman’s rho, permutational multivariate analysis of variance, and differential abundance testing assessed relationships between constructs. Results: Key inflammatory markers linked to CVD were associated with GAHT use—an increased sTNF-I and sTNF-II levels and decreased IL-1a levels. Microbiota composition was not related to GAHT use but was variably associated with inflammatory biomarkers related to CVD risk. Conclusions: Although preliminary, these findings suggest a potential association between inflammation linked to CVD risk and microbiota composition and GAHT. The results contribute to the characterization of interconnecting factors that may inform understanding and interventions to enhance overall health and well-being in transgender women with HIV. Further research is essential to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these associations, ultimately striving for health equity.
AB - Purpose: The intersecting disparities of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among transgender women have raised questions about the role of the gut microbiota and gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) in the pathogenesis of CVD in the context of HIV. The purpose of this study was to provide an early exploration of the associations between these possible mechanisms driving inflammatory CVD risk markers among transgender women with HIV. Methods: We conducted a preliminary study with 21 transgender women with HIV exploring the relationship between GAHT use (self-report), gut/rectal microbiota composition (rectal swabs), and inflammatory markers linked to CVD (plasma). Microbiota measures included alpha (richness, evenness, and Shannon diversity) and beta (Bray-Curtis, un/weighted UniFrac) diversity metrics. Inflammatory biomarkers included intestinal fatty-acid binding protein, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, soluble CD163, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa), soluble TNF receptor I (sTNF-I), sTNF-II, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-1b, IL-1a, soluble CD14, d-dimer (domain dimer), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Wilcoxon rank sum test, log-level regression, Spearman’s rho, permutational multivariate analysis of variance, and differential abundance testing assessed relationships between constructs. Results: Key inflammatory markers linked to CVD were associated with GAHT use—an increased sTNF-I and sTNF-II levels and decreased IL-1a levels. Microbiota composition was not related to GAHT use but was variably associated with inflammatory biomarkers related to CVD risk. Conclusions: Although preliminary, these findings suggest a potential association between inflammation linked to CVD risk and microbiota composition and GAHT. The results contribute to the characterization of interconnecting factors that may inform understanding and interventions to enhance overall health and well-being in transgender women with HIV. Further research is essential to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these associations, ultimately striving for health equity.
KW - HIV
KW - cardiovascular
KW - inflammation
KW - microbiome
KW - transgender women
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85213442773&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/trgh.2024.0042
DO - 10.1089/trgh.2024.0042
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85213442773
SN - 2380-193X
JO - Transgender Health
JF - Transgender Health
ER -