Immunoassay and molecular methods to investigate DNA methylation changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in HIV infected patients on cART

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate the influence of antiretroviral therapy on methylation markers, in a group of HIV infected, heavily treated patients. Immune and molecular methods were used to investigate potential changes in methylation profile in DNA isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from antiretroviral-experienced HIV infected patients and healthy controls. The percentage of 5-methylcytosine was inversely correlated with proviral DNA and active replication while DNMT1 (p = 0.01) and DNMT3A (p = 0.004) independently correlated with active viral replication. DNMT3A expression increased with total treatment duration (p = 0.03), number of antiretroviral drugs ever used (p = 0.003), and cumulative exposure to protease inhibitors (p = 0.02) even in currently HIV undetectable patients.

KEYWORDS:

• DNMT1
• DNMT3A
• HIV
• antiretroviral treatment
• DNA methylation
• epigenetics
• PBMC

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank Dr Anca Botezatu and Dr Irina Huica for outstanding technical assistance.

Funding

This article was supported through the project entitled “Long term effects of chronic HIV infection on the developing brain”, grant no MH094159 from National Institute of Health Project nr. 929/Cod SMIS 14049 financed by SOP-IEC, Axis 2.

Additional information

Funding

This article was supported through the project entitled “Long term effects of chronic HIV infection on the developing brain”, grant no MH094159 from National Institute of Health Project nr. 929/Cod SMIS 14049 financed by SOP-IEC, Axis 2.