New potential miRNA biomarkers in HIV Elite Controllers, HIV infections and Co-Infections with HBV or HCV.

INTRODUCTION: This research aimed to evaluate the specific miRNA including miR-17-5p, miRN-140-3p miR-191-5p, miR-200c-3p, and miR-N367 and cellular factors (p21, SDF-1, XCL1, CCL-2 and IL-2) in controlling replication of HIV in ECs.

METHODS: The expression of miRNAs was assessed between healthy control groups and patient groups including ART-naïve HIV, HIV ART, ECs, and co-infection (HIV-HBV and HIV-HCV) via real-time PCR technique. Besides, the expression level of the nef gene and cellular factors were assessed by the ELISA method. The differences in the level of cellular factors and selected miRNAs between study groups were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis H or one-way ANOVA test. In addition, the potential of selected miRNAs as biomarkers for discriminating study groups was assessed by the receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS: Some miRNAs in ECs, HIV ART and healthy controls have similar expression patterns whereas a miRNAs expression profile of patient groups significantly differed compared to EC and control groups. According to ROC curve analyses, the miR-17-5p, miR-140-3p miR-191-5p, miR-200c-3p, and miR-N367 can be served as biomarkers for discriminating ECs from ART-naïve HIV-infected groups. As well, there was a significant correlation between some miRNAs and cellular factors/the viral load.

CONCLUSION: This report demonstrated a differentiation in the expression of selected immunological factors and cellular/viral miRNAs in ECs compared to other patient groups. Some miRNAs and cellular factors are involved in the viral replication control, immune response/modulation and can be used as biomarker for diagnosis of ECs and differentiation with other groups. Differential expression of these miRNAs and cellular factors in different stages of HIV infection can help in finding novel ways for infection control.