Over 34 million Americans have used cocaine and >1.5 million are estimated to use this agent habitually. Cocaine causes severe cardiotoxicity and stimulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) production leading to left ventricle hypertrophy and dysfunction. We showed that cocaine administration to mice transgenic for HIV-1 worsens left ventricle hypertrophy, causes premature death and induces pathological changes that are more severe than those observed in wild-type mice. Cocaine use predisposes to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection and HIV/AIDS. In the developed world, HIV-1 infection is commonly treated with anti-retroviral drugs that have untoward cardiovascular effects, including cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy in HIV/AIDS patients is prevalent (6%), and has a poor prognosis. Research from our laboratory and others has shown that gene products of HIV-1 and antiretroviral drugs alter mitochondrial function, stimulate mitochondrial production of ROS, and cause heart failure. The cardiovascular system is particularly prone to interactions and complications from cocaine and HIV/AIDS, however, mechanisms are poorly understood. We propose that the interaction of HIV/AIDS, antiretroviral nucleosides, and cocaine causes alterations in cardiomyocytes through undefined mechanisms that lead to cardiomyopathy and heart failure (Figure 1). The complexity of each scenario requires a systems biology approach to understand their interactions and illuminate therapeutic options. The following aims will be addressed:
Aim 1 : To define how nDNA genetic and epigenetic events in HIV/AIDS, antiretroviral therapy, and cocaine administration impact cardiomyopathy in vivo.
Aim 2 : To define genetic and epigenetic events from HIV/AIDS and cocaine that impact mRNA expression and mDNA abundance in the heart.
Aim 3 : To prevent cardiomyopathy in HIV/AIDS, cocaine, and antiretrovirals by ameliorating oxidative stress. Our team is uniquely qualified to address the aims. We will employ a multidisciplinary approach to study transcriptional and epigenetic analysis, physiological and biochemical phenotyping and novel mathematical systems analyses to unravel this complex problem.

Public Health Relevance

Cardiomyopathy is linked to HIV/AIDS and cocaine, but those clinical interactions are complex: The purpose of this application is to use a systems biological analytical approach to dissect complex interactions between pathological, physiological, biochemical and genetic events in HIV/AIDS and cocaine. Ultimately, information obtained may help to formulate testable hypotheses about pathogenesis and treatment of cardiomyopathy in HIV/AIDS and cocaine.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01DA030996-01
Application #
8069038
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDA1-EXL-T (13))
Program Officer
Satterlee, John S
Project Start
2010-09-17
Project End
2015-06-30
Budget Start
2010-09-17
Budget End
2011-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$913,956
Indirect Cost
Name
Emory University
Department
Pathology
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
066469933
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322
Koczor, Christopher A; Ludlow, Ivan; Fields, Earl et al. (2016) Mitochondrial polymerase gamma dysfunction and aging cause cardiac nuclear DNA methylation changes. Physiol Genomics 48:274-80
Koczor, Christopher A; Jiao, Zhe; Fields, Earl et al. (2015) AZT-induced mitochondrial toxicity: an epigenetic paradigm for dysregulation of gene expression through mitochondrial oxidative stress. Physiol Genomics 47:447-54
Koczor, Christopher A; Ludlow, Ivan; Hight 2nd, Robert S et al. (2015) Ecstasy (MDMA) Alters Cardiac Gene Expression and DNA Methylation: Implications for Circadian Rhythm Dysfunction in the Heart. Toxicol Sci 148:183-91
Koczor, Christopher A; Fields, Earl; Jedrzejczak, Mark J et al. (2015) Methamphetamine and HIV-Tat alter murine cardiac DNA methylation and gene expression. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 288:409-19
Koshman, Yevgeniya E; Sternlicht, Mark D; Kim, Taehoon et al. (2015) Connective tissue growth factor regulates cardiac function and tissue remodeling in a mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy. J Mol Cell Cardiol 89:214-22
Torres, Rebecca A; Lewis, William (2014) Aging and HIV/AIDS: pathogenetic role of therapeutic side effects. Lab Invest 94:120-8
Remick, Joshua; Georgiopoulou, Vasiliki; Marti, Catherine et al. (2014) Heart failure in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection: epidemiology, pathophysiology, treatment, and future research. Circulation 129:1781-9
Koczor, Christopher A; Torres, Rebecca A; Fields, Earl J et al. (2013) Thymidine kinase and mtDNA depletion in human cardiomyopathy: epigenetic and translational evidence for energy starvation. Physiol Genomics 45:590-6
Koczor, Christopher A; Torres, Rebecca A; Fields, Earl J et al. (2013) Mitochondrial matrix P53 sensitizes cells to oxidative stress. Mitochondrion 13:277-81
Koczor, Christopher A; Lee, Eva K; Torres, Rebecca A et al. (2013) Detection of differentially methylated gene promoters in failing and nonfailing human left ventricle myocardium using computation analysis. Physiol Genomics 45:597-605

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