Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine have discovered new genetic markers that may explain why many people living with HIV, even with good viral control, experience problems with memory, attention, mood, and movement.
The researchers took fibroblasts — skin cells — from people with HIV whose virus is controlled by antiretroviral therapy and from healthy volunteers and reprogrammed them into neurons.
It turned out that neurons from people with HIV have significantly different gene activity patterns compared to control samples. Some of these changes were known from previous studies of postmortem brain samples, and some were discovered for the first time, opening up new avenues for understanding the mechanisms of cognitive impairment. In particular, people with HIV have increased activity of a gene associated with inflammation (IFI27) and decreased activity of several other genes (FOXL2NB, FOXL2, LINC01391) that may be involved in the neurological effects of infection.
Since such differences are observed even in neurons derived from skin cells, this indicates a systemic effect of HIV on the body beyond the immediate damage to the brain. The results provide a basis for further research to help develop tools for better understanding and, possibly, treating cognitive disorders in people with HIV.
It should be noted that treating sleep apnea reduces fatigue and improves heart health in people with HIV. The study results showed a significant reduction in fatigue, as well as improved sleep quality and reduced daytime sleepiness. In addition, there was an improvement in vascular health and a reduction in heart rate by an average of five beats per minute. Blood pressure did not change significantly.