scholarly journals Genomics Links Inflammation with Neurocognitive Impairment in Children Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus type-1

Author(s):  
Pratima Rawat ◽  
Sean S Brummel ◽  
Kumud K Singh ◽  
Jihoon Kim ◽  
Kelly A Frazer ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We identified host single nucleotide variants (SNVs) associated with neurocognitive impairment (NCI) in perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV) children. Methods Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on 217 PHIV with NCI (cognitive score for age (CSA) <70 and 247 CSA > 70 (Discovery Cohort [DC]). SNVs identified in DC were evaluated in two validation cohorts (VC). Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for NCI. A human microglia NLRP3 inflammasome assay characterized the role of identified genes. Results 29 SNVs in 24 genes reaching p ≤0.002 and OR ≥1.5 comparing CSA <70 to CSA ≥70 were identified in the DC of which three SNVs were identified in VC1 and VC2 for further study. Combining the three cohorts, a SNV in CCRL2 (rs3204849) was associated with decreased odds of NCI (p<0.0001) whereas RETREG1/FAM134B (rs61733811) and YWHAH (rs73884247) were associated with increased risk of NCI (p<0.0001 and P<0.001, respectively). Knockdown of CCRL2 led to decreased microglial release of IL-1β following exposure to ssRNA40 while knockdown of RETREG1 and YWHAH resulted in increased IL-1β release. Conclusions Using WES and two VCs, and gene silencing of microglia we identified three genetic variants that are associated with NCI and inflammation in HIV-infected children.

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 61-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teri T. Baldewicz ◽  
Pim Brouwers ◽  
Karl Goodkin ◽  
Adarsh M. Kumar ◽  
Mahendra Kumar

AbstractNutritional deficiencies are commonplace in patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, and recent research has indicated that nutritional factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 disease. Although nutritional deficiencies are unlikely to be the primary causative factor in disease progression, they may contribute to cognitive dysfunction, neurologic abnormalities, mood disturbance, and immune dysregulation associated with HIV-1 infection. Furthermore, deficiencies of specific micronutrients have been associated with increased risk of HIV-1–associated mortality. This article will briefly summarize the role of macronutrient deficiency, the interactions of specific micronutrient deficiencies with neuropsychiatrie functioning, and the role of these factors in HIV-1 disease progression. Since recent research has shown that normalization of many nutritional deficits and supplementation beyond normal levels are associated with improvements in neuropsychiatrie functioning, potential treatment implications will also be discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatao Liu ◽  
Yongsheng Li ◽  
Dongjian Ying ◽  
Shimei Qiu ◽  
Yong He ◽  
...  

AbstractNeuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the gallbladder (GB-NEC) is a rare but extremely malignant subtype of gallbladder cancer (GBC). The genetic and molecular signatures of GB-NEC are poorly understood; thus, molecular targeting is currently unavailable. In the present study, we applied whole-exome sequencing (WES) technology to detect gene mutations and predicted somatic single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in 15 cases of GB-NEC and 22 cases of general GBC. In 15 GB-NECs, the C > T mutation was predominant among the 6 types of SNVs. TP53 showed the highest mutation frequency (73%, 11/15). Compared with neuroendocrine carcinomas of other organs, significantly mutated genes (SMGs) in GB-NECs were more similar to those in pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNECs), with driver roles for TP53 and RB1. In the COSMIC database of cancer-related genes, 211 genes were mutated. Strikingly, RB1 (4/15, 27%) and NAB2 (3/15, 20%) mutations were found specifically in GB-NECs; in contrast, mutations in 29 genes, including ERBB2 and ERBB3, were identified exclusively in GBC. Mutations in RB1 and NAB2 were significantly related to downregulation of the RB1 and NAB2 proteins, respectively, according to immunohistochemical (IHC) data (p values = 0.0453 and 0.0303). Clinically actionable genes indicated 23 mutated genes, including ALK, BRCA1, and BRCA2. In addition, potential somatic SNVs predicted by ISOWN and SomVarIUS constituted 6 primary COSMIC mutation signatures (1, 3, 30, 6, 7, and 13) in GB-NEC. Genes carrying somatic SNVs were enriched mainly in oncogenic signaling pathways involving the Notch, WNT, Hippo, and RTK-RAS pathways. In summary, we have systematically identified the mutation landscape of GB-NEC, and these findings may provide mechanistic insights into the specific pathogenesis of this deadly disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ianthe A. E. M. van Belzen ◽  
Alexander Schönhuth ◽  
Patrick Kemmeren ◽  
Jayne Y. Hehir-Kwa

AbstractCancer is generally characterized by acquired genomic aberrations in a broad spectrum of types and sizes, ranging from single nucleotide variants to structural variants (SVs). At least 30% of cancers have a known pathogenic SV used in diagnosis or treatment stratification. However, research into the role of SVs in cancer has been limited due to difficulties in detection. Biological and computational challenges confound SV detection in cancer samples, including intratumor heterogeneity, polyploidy, and distinguishing tumor-specific SVs from germline and somatic variants present in healthy cells. Classification of tumor-specific SVs is challenging due to inconsistencies in detected breakpoints, derived variant types and biological complexity of some rearrangements. Full-spectrum SV detection with high recall and precision requires integration of multiple algorithms and sequencing technologies to rescue variants that are difficult to resolve through individual methods. Here, we explore current strategies for integrating SV callsets and to enable the use of tumor-specific SVs in precision oncology.


Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Eric Rossi ◽  
Megan E. Meuser ◽  
Camille J. Cunanan ◽  
Simon Cocklin

The capsid (CA) protein of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is an essential structural component of a virion and facilitates many crucial life cycle steps through interactions with host cell factors. Capsid shields the reverse transcription complex from restriction factors while it enables trafficking to the nucleus by hijacking various adaptor proteins, such as FEZ1 and BICD2. In addition, the capsid facilitates the import and localization of the viral complex in the nucleus through interaction with NUP153, NUP358, TNPO3, and CPSF-6. In the later stages of the HIV-1 life cycle, CA plays an essential role in the maturation step as a constituent of the Gag polyprotein. In the final phase of maturation, Gag is cleaved, and CA is released, allowing for the assembly of CA into a fullerene cone, known as the capsid core. The fullerene cone consists of ~250 CA hexamers and 12 CA pentamers and encloses the viral genome and other essential viral proteins for the next round of infection. As research continues to elucidate the role of CA in the HIV-1 life cycle and the importance of the capsid protein becomes more apparent, CA displays potential as a therapeutic target for the development of HIV-1 inhibitors.


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