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Journal of Biotechnology and Phytochemistry| Volume: 2
October 25-26, 2018 | Frankfurt, Germany
Joint Event
Biotechnology & Medical Microbiology
World Congress on 3 rd International Conference on
Food Science & Technology
Predictive value of microRNAs for decreasing CD4 T cell count among HIV-1-infected patients who
spontaneously control viral replication (HIV controllers)
Alejandro Vallejo
Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Spain
Background: A small group of HIV-1-infected individuals (5-
15%) control disease progression for several years in the
absence of any antiretroviral therapy. Among this group, elite
controllers spontaneously control HIV-1 replication (below 50
HIV-1 RNA copies/ml); nevertheless, they are still susceptible
to have several aspects of the immune response deregulated,
especially elevated immune activation and inflammation.
Homeostatic factors contribute to maintain a stable pool of
T cells in this situation where T cell apoptosis is enhanced.
This situation promotes the release of micro vesicles, such
as exosomes that are released by the cells and are present
in blood, urine, and saliva. This content includes miRNAs,
small non-coding RNA capable of recognizing specific mRNA
and inhibiting its translation into proteins. These molecules
may thus promote hematopoietic stem cells and regulate
the immune system and inflammatory processes that could
influence the homeostasis cell equilibrium. HIV could interfere
with the exosomal pathway. The direct influence of exosomal
miRNAs on the cells of the immune system during HIV infection
is a topic that is still poorly understood. Since exosomes can
modulate immune responses and may affect HIV pathogenesis,
we conducted this cross-sectional study of quantification of
selected miRNAs in HIV elite controllers. We also investigated
the association of plasma-derived exosome miRNA levels with
both soluble cytokine levels and cellular immune activation.
Methods: Two groups of elite controllers were analysed, i.e.,
those that during the follow up had stable or increasing CD4 T
cell count (SEC, N=21), and those who had significant decline of
CD4 T cell count (DEC, N=11). Plasma-derived exosomes were
used to determine the expression of miRs and determine their
association to soluble cytokine markers and cellular immune
activation.
Results: Plasma exosome-derived miR-16 and miR-21 are
downregulated in DEC group, while miR-221 was upregulated
compared to SEC group. Only miR-21 was independently
associated with CD4 T cell decline in elite controllers (p=0.049;
odds ratio 0.369, IC95 [0.137-0.994]). On the other hand,
negative correlation between plasma exosome-derived miR-
21 and MCP-1 was found (p=0.020). No correlation between
expression of miRs and cellular immune activation markers was
found.
Conclusion: Exosome-derived miR-21 might be used as a
valuable prognosis soluble biomarker to define HIV-1 elite
controllers who will have significant decay in their CD4 T cell
counts.
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