title: Ring finger protein 39 genetic variants associate with HIV-1 plasma viral loads and its replication in cell culture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) exploits host proteins to complete its life cycle. Genome-wide siRNA approaches suggested that host proteins affect HIV-1 replication. However, the results barely overlapped. RING finger protein 39 (RNF39) has been identified from genome-wide association studies. However, its function during HIV-1 replication remains unclear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We investigated the relationship between common RNF39 genetic variants and HIV-1 viral loads. The effect of RNF39 protein knockdown or overexpression on HIV-1 replication was then investigated in different cell lines. Two genetic variants were associated with HIV-1 viral loads. Patients with the ht1-GG/GG haplotype presented lower RNF39 expression levels and lower HIV-1 viral load. RNF39 knockdown inhibited HIV-1 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RNF39 protein may be involved in HIV-1 replication as observed in genetic studies on patients with HIV-1 and in in vitro cell cultures.
authors.affiliation: Genetic Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.|School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ying-Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Viral Biochemistry Section, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Chia-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Molecular Virology Section, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Kuan-Teh
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Jeang
authors.affiliation: Molecular Virology Section, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jen-Hsien
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, Chang-Gung University, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: The Laboratory of Molecular Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Hsinyi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.affiliation: Genetic Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ting-Hsu
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Genetic Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chiu-Chu
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Genetic Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shao-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mao-Wang
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Biostatistics Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Kuei
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Biostatistics Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jin-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Division of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Beigang Hospital, Yunlin County, Taiwan.|Division of Chinese Medicine, Tainan Municipal An-Nan Hospital -China Medical University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsung-Jung
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Genetic Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.|School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fuu-Jen
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
keywords: HIV-1 viral load; RNF39; Single nucleotide polymorphism; Viral replication