Problem. The use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has allowed people living with HIV (PLWH) to live longer and healthier. Nevertheless, more than half of PLWH still have varying degrees of HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) despite viral suppression with cART. Longer duration of HIV infection and aging may have conjoining negative effects on cognitive function and neurodegeneration. As the PLWH are growing older, it is important to differentiate HAND from neurodegenerative diseases affecting the general aging population, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Both HAND and AD might share neuropathological mechanisms, which have not been systematically studied, in PLWH during suppressive cART. Overarching Goal. To characterize the molecular signatures underlying HAND during viral suppression on cART, and describe the commonalities and differences with those molecular signatures associated with AD. Cohorts and Samples. We will use complementary and well-characterized cohorts with extensive longitudinal available clinical, neurocognitive and laboratory data from two major research programs: HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program (HNRP) and Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC). A. HNRP: We will retrospectively include CSF and blood samples from participants who (i) had normal cognition at baseline and had incident HAND at a subsequent time-points (HAND group, n=100) and, (ii) age- matched participants who had normal cognition at baseline and did not develop HAND in any of the subsequent time-points (no-HAND group, n=100). For the HAND group, we will also evaluate samples at the time-point when HAND was first diagnosed. For subset of participants (n=20), we will include stored post- mortem brain tissue for exploratory evaluation. B. ADRC: We will retrospectively include CSF and blood samples from participants who: (i) had Mild Neurocognitive Impairment (MCI) at baseline and developed AD in the subsequent time-point (AD group, n=50) and, (ii) age-matched participants who had normal cognition during all observational time-points (control group, n=50). Brain tissue will also be available for a subset of participants (n=20) for exploratory evaluation. Approach. We propose a highly innovative approach by generating and analyzing high dimensional data focused on study objectives designed to be responsive to the parent RFA-AG-18-023. Specifically, we will generate metabolomics and lipidomics (aim 1), transcriptomics (aim 2), and we will integrate these data with relevant AD-associated genetic variants, clinical variables and measures of classical AD biomarkers (aim 3) to develop molecular interaction networks and predictive models of HAND and AD. Our study has the potential to yield highly translatable results by identifying pathways that can be targeted to improve care for both ageing HIV population and AD population. The data collected as part of this project will also lay the groundwork for future studies that can tackle a wide variety of open questions concerning aging, HIV and neurodegeneration.

Public Health Relevance

We will use complementary and well-characterized cohorts with extensive longitudinal available clinical, neurocognitive and laboratory data from two major research programs: HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program (HNRP) and Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC). We will generate and analyze high dimensional data focused on study objectives designed to be responsive to the parent RFA, which include to describe the commonalities and differences in molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning HAND and AD. Results of our study will help to understand the mechanisms of HAND and AD and, will proved insights for future strategies to manage HIV Neurophatogenesis and AD.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG061066-02
Application #
9787105
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAG1)
Program Officer
Mackiewicz, Miroslaw
Project Start
2018-09-30
Project End
2023-05-31
Budget Start
2019-06-01
Budget End
2020-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California, San Diego
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093