title: The association of RBBP6 variant 3 expressions with apoptosis in human immunodeficiency virus-associated nephropathy (HIVAN).
abstract: South Africa has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. One of the complications of HIV infection is the development of HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN), which is characterized by deregulation in tubular epithelial apoptosis. The pathways that HIV-1 promotes in the pathogenesis of HIVAN remain less understood. There are many genes that have not been characterized in the pathogenesis of HIVAN. On the other hand, RBBP6 has been shown to play a role in both promoting and inhibiting apoptosis in human cancers. This study was aimed at determining an association between RBBP6 isoform 3 expression and the levels of apoptosis in HIVAN cases. HIVAN biopsy tissues from Johannesburg patients in South Africa were used in this study. These tissues were stained for RBBP6 expression and apoptosis levels using immunohistochemistry staining and TUNEL method respectively. Image analysis was used for quantitative analysis and GraphPad Version 4 was used for statistical analysis. High expression levels of RBBP6 were found in HIVAN cases (n=30) relative to the normal tissues (n=10). High apoptosis levels were also obtained in the HIVAN tissues. This direct association between RBBP6 expression and apoptosis levels suggests that RBBP6 may play a role in HIVAN pathogenesis. RBBP6 may then be targeted for both diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in HIVAN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X 1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa.
authors.forename: Zukile
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mbita
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits Medical School, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, South Africa.
authors.forename: Sarala
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naicker
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits Medical School, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, South Africa.
authors.forename: Stewart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goetsch
authors.affiliation: Research, Innovation & Engagements Portfolio, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, 4031, South Africa. Electronic address: Zodwa.Dlamini@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Zodwa
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dlamini
mesh_terms: D016263:AIDS-Associated Nephropathy / Q000235:genetics*; D017209:Apoptosis; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014644:Genetic Variation; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013019:South Africa; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C098584:RBBP6 protein, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
keywords: Apoptosis; HIVAN; Immunohistochemistry; In situ hybridization; RBBP6