Peripheral blood mononuclear cell transcriptomes reveal an over-representation of down-regulated genes associated with immunity in HIV-exposed uninfected infants.

ABSTRACT: HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants are disproportionately at a higher risk of morbidity and mortality, as compared to HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) infants. Here, we used transcriptional profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to determine immunological signatures of in utero HIV exposure. We identified 262 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HEU compared to HUU infants. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified six modules that had significant associations with clinical traits. Functional enrichment analysis on both DEGs and the six significantly associated modules revealed an enrichment of G-protein coupled receptors and the immune system, specifically affecting neutrophil function and antibacterial responses. Additionally, malaria pathogenicity gene

SUBMITTER: Musimbi ZD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6889308 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature