title: miR-29a associates with viro-immunological markers of HIV infection in treatment experienced patients.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA species essential for the post-translational regulation of gene expression. Several miRNA have been proposed to contribute to Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection establishment, progression and latency. Among them, miR-29a seems to be of particular interest. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between miR-29a expression and immunologic and virologic markers of HIV infection progression in long-term antiretroviral-treated individuals. In a homogenous group of 165 young adults, with chronic HIV infection, parenterally acquired during childhood, the expression level of miR-29a was found to be inversely correlated with HIV viral load and the degree of immunosuppression, expressed by both CD4 cell count and the CD4/CD8 ratio. There was a significant difference in miR-29a expression according to the patient's response to treatment, with the lowest levels expressed by patients with treatment failure, defined as detectable viremia and CD4 < 350 cells/mm3. No significant correlation was found between miRNA level and the nadir CD4 count or zenith HIV viral load. This study establishes the association between miR-29a expression and markers of HIV infection in long-term survivors, treatment-experienced patients, suggesting its potential use as an indicator for the on-treatment disease evolution. J. Med. Virol. 88:2132-2137, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Virology Chair, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.|Stefan S. Nicolau Virology Institute, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Adelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosca
authors.affiliation: Stefan S. Nicolau Virology Institute, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Anton
authors.affiliation: Stefan S. Nicolau Virology Institute, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Botezatu
authors.affiliation: Virology Chair, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.|Stefan S. Nicolau Virology Institute, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Aura
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Temereanca
authors.affiliation: Victor Babes Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Luminita
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ene
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Achim
authors.affiliation: Virology Chair, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. simona@simonaruta.ro.|Stefan S. Nicolau Virology Institute, Bucharest, Romania. simona@simonaruta.ro.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C532045:MIRN29a microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: CD4/CD8; HIV; antiretroviral treatment; miR-29a; microRNA