Altered mitochondrial RNA production in adipocytes from HIV-infected individuals with lipodystrophy.
BACKGROUND
Damage to mitochondria (mt) is a major side effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) that includes a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). Such damage is associated with the onset of lipodystrophy in HAART-treated HIV+ patients. To further investigate mt changes during this syndrome, we analysed the expression of mtRNA in adipocytes from lipodystrophic HIV+ patients taking NRTI-containing HAART and compared it with similar cells from healthy individuals.


METHODS
Total RNA was extracted from adipocytes collected from different anatomical locations of 11 HIV+ lipodystrophic patients and seven healthy control individuals. RNA was reverse transcribed and Taqman-based real-time PCR was used to quantify three different mt transcripts (ND1, CYTB and ND6 gene products). mtRNA content was normalized versus the housekeeping transcript L13.


RESULTS
ND1, CYTB and ND6 expression was significantly reduced in HIV+ lipodystrophic patients. HIV+ men and women did not differ in a statistically significant way regarding the levels of ND1 and ND6, whereas the opposite occurred for CYTB.


CONCLUSIONS
Lipodystrophy following treatment with NRTI-containing HAART is associated with a decrease in adipose tissue mtRNAs.
Galluzzi
Lorenzo
L
Chair of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Pinti
Marcello
M
Guaraldi
Giovanni
G
Mussini
Cristina
C
Troiano
Leonardo
L
Roat
Erika
E
Giovenzana
Chiara
C
Nemes
Elisa
E
Nasi
Milena
M
Orlando
Gabriella
G
Salomoni
Paolo
P
Cossarizza
Andrea
A
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D039682:HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D012313:RNA