Brief Report: Coordinated Modulation of Circulating miR-21 in HIV, HIV-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, and HIV/Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2015 Nov 1;70(3):236-41. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000741.

Abstract

Dysregulation of microRNA-21 (miR-21) is independently associated with HIV infection, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. To assess the expression of miR-21 in these overlapping comorbidities, we measured plasma miR-21 in HIV with and without PAH and then stratified by concomitant HCV infection. MiR-21 was increased in HIV and HIV-PAH versus uninfected subjects, but it did not differ between these groups. HIV/HCV coinfection correlated with even higher miR-21 levels within the HIV-infected population. These data reveal specific regulation of plasma miR-21 in HIV, HIV/HCV coinfection, and PAH and suggest that miR-21 may integrate complex disease-specific signaling in the setting of HIV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • Hepatitis C / complications*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology*
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs / blood
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • MIRN21 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs