Background/Objectives: Individuals with HIV on combined antiretroviral therapy (ART) with virologic suppression exhibit chronic immune activation and immune dysfunction. Numerous studies have shown that human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) controls the postnatal transmission of HIV-1, but its effect on adult HIV-1 infection is not known. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-HIV activity of Lacto-N-fucopentaose III (LNFPIII) in adult blood-borne macrophages.

Methods: Primary human monocyte-derived macrophages from the blood of HIV-seronegative individuals were infected with HIV and treated with or without dextran-conjugated LNFPIII (P3DEX). HIV replication was measured by quantifying the accumulation of HIV Gag p24 in the culture supernatants by ELISA. The quantities of chemokines MIP-1 alpha, MIP-1 beta, and CCL5 in the culture supernatant were also measured by ELISA. The expression of IL-1 beta, IL-18, TNF alpha, IL-10, BECN1, and housekeeping gene HuPO in the macrophages was determined by qRT PCR. The expression of NF-kB, LC3, p62, and beta-actin was measured by immunoblotting.

Results: We found that P3DEX controls HIV replication without affecting HIV binding and/or internalization by human macrophages. The treatment of HIV-infected macrophages with P3DEX increased the quantity of beta (beta)-chemokines MIP-1 alpha, CCL5, and MIP-1 beta, which are known to have anti-HIV activity. Furthermore, the treatment of HIV-infected macrophages with P3DEX increased autophagic flux in a TLR8-dependent manner and ameliorated the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. These results suggest that P3DEX is a prominent milk-derived sugar that simultaneously augments anti-viral mechanisms and controls immune activation. These findings prudently justify the use and clinical development of P3DEX as a host-directed therapeutic option for people living with HIV.