Researchers from National Institute for Infectious Disease publish findings in immunology
2007 APR 3 -- Research findings, "Differential expression of Werner and Bloom syndrome genes in the peripheral blood of HIV-1 infected patients," are discussed in a new report. According to recent research from Rome, Italy, "Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-induced immunodeficiency and immune-system aging share some analogies. Since Werner (WRN) and Bloom (BLM) helicases are crucial in cell repair and aging, their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) mRNA levels were compared in HIV-1 infected patients and in normal donors." "The mean levels of WRN mRNA were 3.7-fold higher in PBMCs from HIV-1 infected individuals in comparison to healthy donors, whereas BLM mRNA mean levels were slightly higher, although not significantly. WRN increase was positively correlated to CD4 and CD8 T-cell numbers, and also the percentage of naive T lymphocytes, and was observed also in T-cell subsets. Interestingly, a general trend toward increased WRN mRNA levels in individuals with lower viral load was observed, without association with patient age, time of seroconversion, and on/off antiretroviral therapy regimen," wrote L. Bordi and colleagues, National Institute for Infectious Disease. The researchers concluded: "On the whole, this study shows that WRN and BLM are differentially modulated in HIV infection, as WRN--but not BLM--is significantly increased, suggesting that mechanisms different from defect or loss of helicase function, observed in WRN and BLM syndromes, may be at the basis of T-cell aging in HIV infection." Bordi and colleagues published their study in Human Immunology (Differential expression of Werner and Bloom syndrome genes in the peripheral blood of HIV-1 infected patients. Human Immunology, 2007;68(2):91-9). For additional information, contact L. Bordi, National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Virology, Rome, Italy. Publisher contact information for the journal Human Immunology is: Elsevier Science Inc., 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710, USA. Keywords: Italy, Rome, Immunodeficiency, Immunology. This article was prepared by Life Science Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Life Science Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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