The Rockefeller University

Investigating the Impact of Race on Gene-Expression Profiles in HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorders

Purpose

HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HANDs) are a pervasive and debilitating complication of HIV infection with an estimated prevalence of 30-45%. The identification of robust validated specific and sensitive biomarkers for HAND that do not require invasive CSF sampling has been elusive and is of paramount importance. However unrecognized racial differences in gene expression could significantly impact the predictive value of biomarkers of HAND if applied to populations in which they have not been developed or validated. We hypothesize that significant racial differences will be identified in the peripheral blood single-cell based gene-expression profiles of HAND. We further hypothesize that these differences may be largely attributed to delays in viral suppression and delayed/decreased access to care. To test these hypotheses we will use multivariate modeling to determine the relative influence of clinical and sociodemographic variables and social determinants of health on unbiased single-cell based gene transcriptional profiles in the peripheral blood of HIV-positive virally suppressed African American and Caucasian cohorts with and without HAND.

Condition

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus