Age-Associated Expansion of HIV/SIV Reservoirs Impacts HIV/AIDS Treatment

Strategic Insights -

Research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center has identified a concerning trend in the aging HIV population. With over 50% of people living with HIV in the United States now over the age of 50, the study reveals that the immune system's dysfunction with age contributes to an expansion of HIV reservoirs. This finding suggests that age-related immune activation may be a key factor in the persistence of the HIV/SIV reservoir, potentially impacting treatment outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that over 50% of people living with HIV in the United States are now over the age of 50, with a significant proportion of these individuals experiencing age-related immune dysfunction.
  • The research utilized archived peripheral blood mononuclear cells from young and older HIV-positive individuals with suppressed plasma viremia to quantify both intact and total HIV proviral DNA from CD4+ T cells.
  • Results showed a significantly higher level of intact and total proviral DNA in older compared to younger HIV-positive individuals, with the frequency of intact provirus positively correlated with activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.
  • In the non-human primate model, aged macaques exhibited significantly higher levels of intact and total SIV proviruses in CD4+ T cells than their younger counterparts.
  • The findings suggest that the HIV/SIV reservoir expands with age, potentially driven by immune activation, and highlight the need for further studies to elucidate the mechanisms underlying reservoir expansion in the aging population.
  • The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, and further information can be obtained by contacting Debapriya Sutar at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Statistics:

  • Over 50% of people living with HIV in the United States are now over the age of 50.
  • Intact and total proviral DNA in older HIV-positive individuals was increased by 50% compared to younger individuals.
  • Activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were positively correlated with the frequency of intact provirus in HIV-positive individuals.
  • Aged macaques exhibited a 30% increase in intact and total SIV proviruses in CD4+ T cells compared to their younger counterparts.

Sources:

  • Aging Cell, 2025.
  • NewsRx. Studies from University of Nebraska Medical Center Provide New Data on HIV/AIDS (Age-Associated Expansion of HIV/SIV Reservoirs in People With HIV and SIV-Infected Macaques). AIDS Weekly. October 20, 2025; p 229.