Nicotinamide mononucleotide impacts HIV-1 infection by modulating immune activation in T lymphocytes and humanized mice

Abstract

Background: HIV-1-associated immune activation drives CD4⁺ T cell depletion and the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We aimed to determine the role of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), the direct precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) co-enzyme, in CD4⁺ T cell modulation during HIV-1 infection.

Methods: We examined HIV-1 integrated DNA or transcribed RNA, intracellular p24 protein, and T cell activation markers in CD4⁺ T cells including in vitro HIV-1-infected cells, reactivated patient-derived cells, and in HIV-1-infected humanized mice, under NMN treatment. RNA-seq and CyTOF analyses were used for investigating the effect of NMN on CD4⁺ T cells.

Findings: We found that NMN increased the intracellular NAD amount, resulting in suppressed HIV-1 p24 production and proliferation in infected CD4⁺ T cells, especially in activated CD25⁺CD4⁺ T cells. NMN also inhibited CD25 expression on reactivated resting CD4⁺ T cells derived from cART-treated people living with HIV-1 (PLWH). In HIV-1-infected humanized mice, the frequency of CD4⁺ T cells was reconstituted significantly by combined cART and NMN treatment as compared with cART or NMN alone, which correlated with suppressed hyperactivation of CD4⁺ T cells.

Interpretation: Our results highlight the suppressive role of NMN in CD4⁺ T cell activation during HIV-1 infection. It warrants future clinical investigation of NMN as a potential treatment in combination with cART in PLWH.

Funding: This work was supported by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council Theme-Based Research Scheme (T11-706/18-N), University Research Committee of The University of Hong Kong, the Collaborative Research with GeneHarbor (Hong Kong) Biotechnologies Limited and National Key R&D Program of China (Grant2021YFC2301900).

Keywords: AIDS; CD4 T cell; HIV-1; Nicotinamide mononucleotide; T cell activation.