COMT Val158Met Polymorphism, Cardiometabolic Risk, and Nadir CD4 Synergistically Increase Risk of Neurocognitive Impairment in Men Living With HIV

Date Published:
08/2019

Publication Type:
Journal Article

Authors:

R. Saloner

M.J. Marquine

E.E. Sundermann

S. Hong

J.A. McCutchan

R.J. Ellis

R.K. Heaton

I. Grant

M. Cherner

Secondary:
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Volume:
81

URL:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

Keywords:
Internal

Abstract:
The Val allele of the Val158Met single-nucleotide polymorphism of the catechol-o-methyltransferase gene (COMT) results in faster metabolism and reduced bioavailability of dopamine (DA). Among persons living with HIV, Val carriers display neurocognitive deficits relative to Met carriers, presumably due to exacerbation of HIV-related depletion of DA. COMT may also impact neurocognition by modulating cardiometabolic function, which is often dysregulated among persons living with HIV. We examined the interaction of COMT, cardiometabolic risk, and nadir CD4 on neurocognitive impairment (NCI) among HIV+ men.