Alcohol use disorder (AUD) has been associated with high prevalence of inflammation-associated co-morbidities in people living with HIV even those receiving effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). Our preliminary data support a model in which the combined insult of AUD and HIV on the gut, specifically on the microbiota and intestinal barrier integrity, exacerbates inflammation. Our preliminary data using intestinal organoids also suggest a potential mechanism for AUD-mediated changes in the gut barrier function during HIV; the intestines of HIV+ individuals have low resilience to alcohol induced intestinal barrier disruption caused by high levels of oxidative stress. Finally, our preliminary data also suggest a potential approach to enhance the integrity of the intestinal barrier and reduce gut derived inflammation in people living with HIV with/without AUD- short chain fatty acid prebiotics. These prebiotics prevent alcohol mediated adverse effects on the intestinal barrier and inflammation by preventing oxidative stress. These prebiotics are safe and decrease gut inflammation in humans. 40 HIV+ ART+ (20 AUD- and 20 AUD +), will be recruited for a prebiotic intervention. This is a proof-of-concept intervention study to establish a causal link between microbiota-gut and HIV pathology during ART by asking whether modifying microbiota and gut milieu impacts intestinal barrier function, systemic inflammation, and brain pathology in HIV+ people. Participants will complete three in-person clinic visits and four virtual check-in visits during this 8 week study. This study uses a crossover design. At baseline, participants will be randomized to receive either a prebiotic or a placebo for the first intervention period. After completing this period, participants will cross over to receive the alternate study product for the second intervention period, allowing each participant to serve as their own control. These participants are part of the larger observation study (n=160), which will test the hypothesis that intestines from HIV+ individuals have lower resilience to alcohol mediated gut barrier disruption than intestines from HIV-negative controls. New participants will also be recruited. Blood, urine, and stool, will be collected from participants to compare intestinal barrier integrity, system and gut inflammation, immune activation, oxidative stress, microbiome/metabolome. and HIV reservois.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
For this crossover design, participants will be randomly assigned to take a prebiotic or placebo for 4 weeks and then switch to the other products. Participants and research coordinators will be blinded. Participants will be instructed to consume the prebiotic daily during the first three days and then twice daily for the remaining weeks. Participants will be instructed to consume the powder in the morning on the first three days, then in the morning and afternoon for the following weeks. They will record their prebiotic consumption and gastrointestinal symptoms in a daily log and have weekly check-ins with the research coordinator.
For this crossover design, participants will be randomly assigned to take a prebiotic or placebo for 4 weeks and then switch to the other products. Participants and research coordinators will be blinded. Participants will be instructed to consume the placebo (maltodextrin) daily during the first three days and then twice daily for the remaining weeks. Participants will be instructed to consume the powder in the morning on the first three days, then in the morning and afternoon for the following weeks. They will record their prebiotic consumption and gastrointestinal symptoms in a daily log and have weekly check-ins with the research coordinator.
Ali Keshavarzian
Chicago, Illinois, United States
RECRUITINGSugar test for intestinal permeability after prebiotic and placebo consumption in substudy
Measure the permeation of sugar probes following an oral test dose of sugars as this is standard for evaluating intestinal barrier integrity
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in stool and intestinal microbiota composition after prebiotic and placebo consumption
A combination of 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenome sequencing will be used to characterize microbial community structure in intestinal biopsies and stool.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in plasma and stool SCFA level before and after prebiotic treatment
Mass spectrometry and NMR
Time frame: 8 weeks
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