Molecular interplay of ASNS and the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway in CMV and HIV co-infections: Therapeutic implications.

ABSTRACT: CMV/HIV coinfection markedly exacerbates disease progression, elevates treatment failure risk, and worsens patient outcomes, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood-creating an urgent need for targeted host-focused research. This study identifies asparagine synthetase (ASNS) as a pivotal metabolic-signaling hub in coinfection pathogenesis, with critical interactions with the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway. Using integrated bioinformatics analyses of transcriptomic data, ASNS emerged as a central hub in protein-protein interaction networks, with robust positive co-expression alongside key PI3K-AKT-mTOR components (PIK3CA, MTOR, AKT2, AKT3), while machine learning validated AKT2 as a critical node. ASNS was consistently upregulated 48 hours following CMV infection and a

SUBMITTER: Zhang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12923000 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature