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  5. Transcriptional signature of induced neurons differentiates virologically suppressed people with HIV from people without HIV

Transcriptional signature of induced neurons differentiates virologically suppressed people with HIV from people without HIV

File(s)
41324907.pdf (2.02 MB)
Permanent Link(s)
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/123097
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Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Author
Ostermann, P.N.
Wu, Y.
Bowler, S.A.
Martinez-Meza, S.
Siddiqui, M.A.
Meyer, D.H.
Herrera, A.
Sealy, B.A.
Sidharta, M.
Ramnarine, K.
St Bernard, L.A.
Byrd, D.
Jones, R.B.
Yamashita, M.
Nixon, D.F.
Ndhlovu, L.C.
Zhou, T.
Evering, T.H.
Abstract

Neurocognitive impairment is a prevalent co-morbidity in virologically suppressed people living with HIV (PLWH), yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive and treatments lacking. We explored use of participant-derived directly induced neurons (iNs) to model neuronal biology and injury in PLWH. iNs retain age- and disease-related donor features, providing unique opportunities to reveal important aspects of neurological disorders. We obtained primary dermal fibroblasts from six virologically suppressed PLWH (range: 27-64 years, median: 53; 83% Male) and seven matched people without HIV (PWOH) (range: 27-66, median: 55; 71% Male). iNs were generated using transcription factors NGN2 and ASCL1, and validated by immunocytochemistry, single-cell-RNAseq, and electrophysiological recordings. Transcriptomic aging analyses confirmed retention of donor age-related signatures. Bulk-RNAseq identified 29 significantly differentially expressed genes between PLWH and PWOH iNs. Of these, 16 were downregulated and 13 upregulated in PLWH iNs. Protein-protein interaction network mapping indicates iNs from PLWH exhibit differences in extracellular matrix organization and synaptic transmission. IFI27 was upregulated in PLWH iNs, complementing independent post-mortem studies demonstrating elevated IFI27 expression in PLWH-derived brain tissue. FOXL2NB-FOXL2-LINC01391 expression was reduced in PLWH iNs and negatively correlated with neurocognitive impairment. Thus, we identified an iN gene signature of HIV revealing mechanisms of neurocognitive impairment in PLWH.

Journal / Series
JCI insight
Volume & Issue
11(2)
Date Issued
2025-11-25
Publisher
American Society for Clinical Investigation
Keywords
WCM Library Coordinated Deposit
•
Humans
•
Neurons/metabolism
•
HIV Infections/virology/genetics/drug therapy/complications
•
Male
•
Middle Aged
•
Female
•
Adult
•
Transcriptome
•
Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism/genetics
•
Fibroblasts/metabolism
•
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins/metabolism/genetics
•
Gene Expression Profiling
•
Aids/hiv
•
Neurological disorders
•
Neuroscience
Related DOI
https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.190445
Previously Published as
Ostermann PN, Wu Y, Bowler SA, Martinez-Meza S, Siddiqui MA, Meyer DH, Herrera A, Sealy BA, Sidharta M, Ramnarine K, St Bernard LA, Byrd D, Jones RB, Yamashita M, Nixon DF, Ndhlovu LC, Zhou T, Evering TH. Transcriptional signature of induced neurons differentiates virologically suppressed people with HIV from people without HIV. JCI insight. 2025;11(2). doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.190445. PMID: 41324907.
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International
Rights URI
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Type
article

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