Importantly, since opportunistic infections (OIs), in association with lower CD4+ T cell count, might also contribute to low adiposity in chronic HIV infection (via LPS-induced TNF, limited food intake, malabsorption, etc.), we chose to study OI-free, ART-naïve women within a narrow CD4+ T cell count range (200-350 CD4+ T cell count/mm3 at screening); however, a contribution of prior or subclinical OIs and other potential confounding factors cannot be categorically excluded. Here, TNF is linked to HIV infectious disease.