Epigenetic alterations in the brain associated with HIV-1 infection and methamphetamine dependence.

TitleEpigenetic alterations in the brain associated with HIV-1 infection and methamphetamine dependence.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsDesplats, P, Dumaop, W, Cronin, P, Gianella, S, Woods, S, Letendre, S, Smith, D, Masliah, E, Grant, I
JournalPLoS One
Volume9
Issue7
Paginatione102555
Date Published2014
ISSN1932-6203
KeywordsAdult, Amphetamine-Related Disorders, Autopsy, Blotting, Western, Brain, DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1, DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases, DNA Methylation, Epigenesis, Genetic, Epigenomics, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic, Gene Regulatory Networks, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Humans, Internal, Male, Middle Aged, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Signal Transduction
Abstract

HIV involvement of the CNS continues to be a significant problem despite successful use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Drugs of abuse can act in concert with HIV proteins to damage glia and neurons, worsening the neurotoxicity caused by HIV alone. Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive psychostimulant drug, abuse of which has reached epidemic proportions and is associated with high-risk sexual behavior, increased HIV transmission, and development of drug resistance. HIV infection and METH dependence can have synergistic pathological effects, with preferential involvement of frontostriatal circuits. At the molecular level, epigenetic alterations have been reported for both HIV-1 infection and drug abuse, but the neuropathological pathways triggered by their combined effects are less known. We investigated epigenetic changes in the brain associated with HIV and METH. We analyzed postmortem frontal cortex tissue from 27 HIV seropositive individuals, 13 of which had a history of METH dependence, in comparison to 14 cases who never used METH. We detected changes in the expression of DNMT1, at mRNA and protein levels, that resulted in the increase of global DNA methylation. Genome-wide profiling of DNA methylation in a subset of cases, showed differential methylation on genes related to neurodegeneration; dopamine metabolism and transport; and oxidative phosphorylation. We provide evidence for the synergy of HIV and METH dependence on the patterns of DNA methylation on the host brain, which results in a distinctive landscape for the comorbid condition. Importantly, we identified new epigenetic targets that might aid in understanding the aggravated neurodegenerative, cognitive, motor and behavioral symptoms observed in persons living with HIV and addictions.

DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0102555
Alternate JournalPLoS One
PubMed ID25054922
PubMed Central IDPMC4108358
Grant ListP50 DA026306 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG043384 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U24MH100928 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
U24 MH100928 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
P30 NS076411 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH062962 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
P30 MH062512 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
P50DA026306 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
P30 AI036214 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States