Project description:We aimed to determine the association between extracellular miRs and HIV infection, and have demonstrated unique expression profile of 29 miRs in HIV+ subjects and 34 miRs in elite controllers as compared to HIV- subjects. Elite HIV+ subjects are those who are HIV+, not on antiretroviral therapy, and with HIV viral load <200 copies/mL.
Project description:HIV infection produces a chronic inflammation which leads to early aging of people living with HIV. Even though antiretroviral treatments (ART) have significantly increased HIV patient survival, an underlying chronic inflammation persists leading to HIV-related comorbidities. In this context, changes in microRNAs (miRNAs) expression may contribute to this inflammatory response. This study aims to detect differential expression of circulating miRNAs in treatment-naïve HIV individuals compared to uninfected controls and evaluation of altered miRNAs after one year of ART. Serum miRNAs from patients and controls were analysed using next generation sequencing.
Project description:Using microRNA array analyses of in vitro HIV-1-infected CD4+ cells, we find that several host microRNAs are significantly up- or downregulated around the time HIV-1 infection peaks in vitro. While microRNA-223 levels were significantly enriched in HIV-1-infected CD4+CD8− PBMCs, microRNA-29a/b, microRNA-155 and microRNA-21 levels were significantly reduced. Based on the potential for microRNA binding sites in a conserved sequence of the Nef-3′-LTR, several host microRNAs potentially could affect HIV-1 gene expression. Among those microRNAs, the microRNA-29 family has seed complementarity in the HIV-1 3′-UTR, but the potential suppressive effect of microRNA-29 on HIV-1 is severely blocked by the secondary structure of the target region. Our data support a possible regulatory circuit at the peak of HIV-1 replication which involves downregulation of microRNA-29, expression of Nef, the apoptosis of host CD4 cells and upregulation of microRNA-223.
Project description:Using microRNA array analyses of in vitro HIV-1-infected CD4+ cells, we find that several host microRNAs are significantly up- or downregulated around the time HIV-1 infection peaks in vitro. While microRNA-223 levels were significantly enriched in HIV-1-infected CD4+CD8? PBMCs, microRNA-29a/b, microRNA-155 and microRNA-21 levels were significantly reduced. Based on the potential for microRNA binding sites in a conserved sequence of the Nef-3?-LTR, several host microRNAs potentially could affect HIV-1 gene expression. Among those microRNAs, the microRNA-29 family has seed complementarity in the HIV-1 3?-UTR, but the potential suppressive effect of microRNA-29 on HIV-1 is severely blocked by the secondary structure of the target region. Our data support a possible regulatory circuit at the peak of HIV-1 replication which involves downregulation of microRNA-29, expression of Nef, the apoptosis of host CD4 cells and upregulation of microRNA-223. Time course of HIV infection on CD4 cells
Project description:Mechanisms that may allow circulating monocytes to persist as CD4 T cells diminish in HIV-1 infection have not been investigated. We have characterized steady-state gene expression signatures in circulating monocytes from HIV-infected subjects and have identified a stable anti-apoptosis gene signature comprised of 38 genes associated with p53, CD40L, TNF and MAPKinase signaling networks. The significance of this gene signature is indicated by our demonstration of cadmium chloride- or Fas ligand-induced apoptosis resistance in circulating monocytes in contrast to increasing apoptosis in CD4 T cells from the same infected subjects. As potential mechanisms in vivo, we show that monocyte CCR5 binding by HIV-1 virus or agonist chemokines serve as independent viral and host modulators resulting in increased monocyte apoptosis resistance in vitro. We also show evidence for concordance between circulating monocyte apoptosis-related gene expression in HIV-1 infection in vivo and available datasets following viral infection or envelope exposure in monocyte derived macrophages in vitro. The identification of in vivo gene expression associated with monocyte resistance to apoptosis is of relevance to AIDS pathogenesis since it would contribute to: (1) maintaining viability of infection targets and long-term reservoirs of HIV-1 infection in the monocyte/macrophage populations, and (2) protecting a cell subset critical to host survival in spite of sustained high viral replication. Keywords: two group study design 33 samples hybridized, including 13 HIV-1 Patients, 12 Healthy Controls and 4 HIV-1 Patients and 4 Controls followed 6 months later
Project description:Background: HIV infection is associated with impaired gas transfer in the lung as indicated by a low diffusing capacity (DLCO). Mechanisms for reduced DLCO in the setting of HIV infection are not well understood. We hypothesized that HIV-associated gas exchange impairment is indicative of system-wide perturbations that could be reflected by alterations in peripheral blood gene expression. Methods: A total of 40 HIV-infected (HIV+) and uninfected (HIV-) men with preserved versus reduced DLCO were selected from a larger cohort study of lung function. All subjects were current smokers and those with acute illness, lung diseases other than COPD or asthma were excluded. Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) and hybridized to whole-genome microarrays. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed between HIV+ vs. HIV- subjects with preserved DLCO and those with impaired DLCO to identify differentially activated pathways. Results: Using pathway-based analyses we found that in subjects with preserved DLCO, HIV infection is associated with activation of processes involved in immunity, cell cycle, and apoptosis. When we applied a similar analysis to subjects with low DLCO, we identified a much broader repertoire of inflammatory and immune-related pathways in HIV+ patients relative to HIV- subjects, with up-regulation of multiple interleukin pathways, interferon signaling, Toll-like receptor signaling, and T cell/B cell receptor signaling. We confirmed elevated circulating levels of IL-6 in HIV+ patients with reduced DLCO relative to the other groups. Conclusions: Our findings reveal that PBLs of subjects with HIV infection and low DLCO are distinguished by widespread enrichment of immuno-inflammatory programs. Activation of these pathways may alter the biology of circulating leukocytes and play a role in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated pulmonary gas exchange impairment. Total RNA was isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes in four subject groups: 1. HIV-, low DLCO (N = 11); 2. HIV+, low DLCO (N = 10); 3. HIV-, preserved DLCO (N = 9); 4. HIV+, preserved DLCO (N = 9). Each sample was hybridized to an Affymetrix PrimeView Human Gene Expression microarray for a total of 39 experiments.
Project description:Background: HIV infection is associated with impaired gas transfer in the lung as indicated by a low diffusing capacity (DLCO). Mechanisms for reduced DLCO in the setting of HIV infection are not well understood. We hypothesized that HIV-associated gas exchange impairment is indicative of system-wide perturbations that could be reflected by alterations in peripheral blood gene expression. Methods: A total of 40 HIV-infected (HIV+) and uninfected (HIV-) men with preserved versus reduced DLCO were selected from a larger cohort study of lung function. All subjects were current smokers and those with acute illness, lung diseases other than COPD or asthma were excluded. Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) and hybridized to whole-genome microarrays. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed between HIV+ vs. HIV- subjects with preserved DLCO and those with impaired DLCO to identify differentially activated pathways. Results: Using pathway-based analyses we found that in subjects with preserved DLCO, HIV infection is associated with activation of processes involved in immunity, cell cycle, and apoptosis. When we applied a similar analysis to subjects with low DLCO, we identified a much broader repertoire of inflammatory and immune-related pathways in HIV+ patients relative to HIV- subjects, with up-regulation of multiple interleukin pathways, interferon signaling, Toll-like receptor signaling, and T cell/B cell receptor signaling. We confirmed elevated circulating levels of IL-6 in HIV+ patients with reduced DLCO relative to the other groups. Conclusions: Our findings reveal that PBLs of subjects with HIV infection and low DLCO are distinguished by widespread enrichment of immuno-inflammatory programs. Activation of these pathways may alter the biology of circulating leukocytes and play a role in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated pulmonary gas exchange impairment.