title: Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and highly active antiretroviral therapy-related lipodystrophy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The combination of different point mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which are defined as haplogroups, may cause modification in organelle function and may be involved in several pathologies. We analyzed the distribution of mtDNA polymorphisms in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with lipodystrophy, a relevant adverse event caused by highly active antiretroviral therapy, and their correlation with metabolic and viroimmunologic parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  The frequency of the 9 most common European haplogroups was investigated in 346 white, HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy. Haplogroups were identified on the basis of classic methods. Statistical analysis was performed with use of 1-way analysis of variance, the chi(2) test, and principal-components analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of mtDNA haplogroups among patients with lipodystrophy was similar to that among the general European population. We found no differences between patients with different haplogroups with regard to viroimmunologic results (plasma HIV load, CD4(+) T cell count, and nadir CD4(+) T cell count), glucose data (glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations and insulin resistance), lipid data (levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoproteins, and apolipoprotein A1 and B), acid-base balance parameters (lactate level and anion gap), or anthropometric measures (weight, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio). No differences were observed in trunk fat levels, leg-fat ratio (which was determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), or exposure to different drug classes. Principal-components analysis confirmed that the spatial distribution of patients belonging to a given haplogroup was not influenced by different clinical parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicates that, in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy, mtDNA haplogroups are not related to major metabolic changes or to particular viroimmunologic features.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guaraldi
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Durante
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinti
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nemes
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nardini
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Passarino
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cocchi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mussini
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cossarizza