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Background: Long-term non-progressors (LTNPs) are small subsets of HIV-infectedsubjects that can control HIV-1 replication for several years without receiving ART. The exactmechanism of HIV-1 suppression has not yet been completely elucidated. Although the modulatoryrole of microRNAs (miRNAs) in HIV-1 replication has been reported, their importance in LTNPsis unclear. Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the expression pattern of miR-27b,-29, -150, and -221, as well as their relationship with CD4+ T-cell count, HIV-1 viral load, and nefgene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of untreated viremic patients andin LTNPs. Methods: MiRNAs expression levels were evaluated with real-time PCR assay using RNA isolatedfrom PBMCs of LTNPs, HIV-1 infected naive patients, and healthy people. Moreover, CD4 T-cellcount, HIV viral load, and nef gene expression were assessed. Results: The expression level of all miRNAs significantly decreased in the HIV-1 patient groupcompared to the control group, while the expression pattern of miRNAs in the LNTPs group wassimilar to that in the healthy subject group. In addition, there were significant correlations betweensome miRNA expression with viral load, CD4+ T-cell count, and nef gene expression. Conclusion: The significant similarity and difference of the miRNA expression pattern betweenLNTPs and healthy individuals as well as between elite controllers and HIV-infected patients, respectively,showed that these miRNAs could be used as diagnostic biomarkers. Further, positiveand negative correlations between miRNAs expression and viral/cellular factors could justify therole of these miRNAs in HIV-1 disease monitoring. |
