Frailty in HIV linked to inflammation, bone health, T-cell exhaustion

Osteoprotegerin was the soluble marker most strongly linked to T-cell phenotypes among participants with frailty.

To investigate the association of frailty in individuals with HIV with inflammatory proteins, bone health markers, and T-cell exhaustion.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study involving 120 participants with HIV from the HAILO study, assessing frailty using modified Fried criteria.
Measurements: Plasma markers and T-cell phenotypes were measured to evaluate their relationships with frailty.

19 of 75 plasma markers were significantly associated with frailty, many linked to NF-κB signaling and SASP.
Individuals with frailty had lower proportions of naïve CD4 and CD8 T cells and higher proportions of CD4 T cells expressing TIGIT and PD-1.
Osteoprotegerin (OPG) was strongly linked to T-cell phenotypes and bone health in frail participants, with OPG and tumor necrosis factor levels positively correlated with PD-1 expression and negatively correlated with the naïve CD4 T-cell phenotype.

The study identifies a link between inflammation, T-cell activation, bone health, and frailty in people with HIV.

Cross-sectional design does not establish causality.
The cohort with frailty was relatively young and mostly had a Fried score of 3, limiting assessment of advanced frailty.
Unclear relevance of findings to the general population.