The effect of short-term and high-intensity exercise training in plasma lipidome profiles of people living with and without HIV

Both HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy contribute to dyslipidemia and abnormal body fat distribution in people living with HIV (PLWH). Exercise training is an effective intervention to protect against these metabolic changes. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the impact of exercise training on lipid metabolism in PLWH. To better understand lipid alterations, this study aimed to comparatively evaluate the effect of high-intensity-functional circuit training for 8 weeks on the plasma lipidome of PLWH (n=13) and HIV-negative subjects (control group; n=14). Anthropometric and biochemical parameters revealed lower levels of leptin, HDL-C, body fat %, and BMI combined with elevated Aspartate Transaminase (AST) and Homeostasis Model Assessment of β-cell function (HOMA_beta) in PLWH when compared to control subjects that persisted from baseline to post-exercise training. Nonetheless, contrasting levels of adiponectin, fasting insulin, HOMA_IR and Adipo_IR, together with phosphatidylcholine-containing lipids observed at baseline were equalized after training in PLWH. In control subjects, significant reductions in concentrations of triglycerides alongside phosphatidylinositol and glycosylated ceramides were observed post exercise training. By contrast, PWLH displayed a decrease in concentrations of free fatty acids, cholesteryl esters, and glycosylated ceramides together with increased levels of diglycerides, acylcarnitines, and free cholesterol after exercise training. In addition to specific lipidome alterations in each group, this study showed concomitant modulation of several glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids suggesting health-promoting effects of short-term high-intensity exercise training. Collectively, these modulated lipid species represent interesting targets for future lipidomic-based studies evaluating not only the effects of exercise training, but also the molecular mechanisms resulting in a healthier plasma lipidome profile.