LILAC pilot study: Effects of metformin on mTOR activation and HIV reservoir persistence during antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Chronic inflammation and residual HIV transcription persist in people living with HIV (PLWH) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), thus increasing the risk of developing non-AIDS co-morbidities. The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key regulator of cellular metabolism and HIV transcription, and therefore represents an interesting novel therapeutic target.

Methods: The LILAC pilot clinical trial, performed on non-diabetic ART-treated PLWH with CD4/CD8 T-cell ratios <0.