Publication Abstract Display
Type: Published Manuscript
Title: Peripheral blood mitochondrial DNA copy number obtained from genome-wide genotype data is associated with neurocognitive impairment in persons with chronic HIV infection.
Authors: Hulgan T, Kallianpur AR, Guo Y, Barnholtz-Sloan JS, Gittleman H, Brown TT, Ellis R, Letendre S, Heaton RK, Samuels DC
Year: 2019
Publication: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (1999)
Volume: 80 Issue: 4 Pages: e95-e102
Abstract:BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number varies by cell type and energy demands. Blood mtDNA copy number has been associated with neurocognitive function in persons without HIV. Low mtDNA copy number may indicate disordered mtDNA replication; high copy number may reflect a response to mitochondrial dysfunction. We hypothesized that blood mtDNA copy number estimated from genome-wide genotyping data is related to neurocognitive impairment (NCI) in persons with HIV. METHODS: In the CNS HIV Antiretroviral Therapy Effects Research (CHARTER) study, peripheral blood mtDNA copy number was obtained from genome-wide genotyping data as a ratio of mtDNA SNP probe intensities relative to nuclear DNA SNPs. In a multivariable regression model, associations between mtDNA copy number and demographics, blood cell counts, and HIV disease and treatment characteristics were tested. Associations of mtDNA copy number with the global deficit score (GDS), GDS-defined NCI (GDS≥0.5), and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) diagnosis were tested by logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Among 1,010 CHARTER participants, lower mtDNA copy number was associated with longer antiretroviral therapy duration (p<0.001), but not with d-drug exposure (p=0.85). mtDNA copy number was also associated with GDS (p=0.007), GDS-defined NCI (p<0.001), and HAND (p=0.002). In all analyses, higher mtDNA copy number was associated with poorer cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS: Higher mtDNA copy number estimated from peripheral blood genotyping was associated with worse neurocognitive performance in adults with HIV. These results suggest a connection between peripheral blood mtDNA and NCI, and may represent increased mtDNA replication in response to mitochondrial dysfunction.

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