Immuno-cell metabolic changes in HIV-1 infection

Abstract Recent research has shown that metabolic processes within immune cells are essential for both human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection and the immune response. Throughout HIV-1 infection—from acute stages to chronic infection and viral latency—immune cells experience shifts in energy demands and metabolic pathways, paralleling T-cell exhaustion. Dysregulated immune metabolism compromises immune cell function, leading to immune dysfunction and persistent inflammation. Therefore, metabolic alterations in immune cells constitute a critical mechanism in HIV-1 progression and chronic inflammation. This review specifically explores the metabolic profiles and roles of T cells, monocytes-macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and B cells at different stages of HIV-1 infection, emphasizing the effects of HIV-1 on the metabolic pathways of diverse immune cell types. These insights offer valuable therapeutic strategies aimed at inhibiting viral replication, restoring immune function, and controlling disease progression.