Plasma extracellular vesicles and cell-free mitochondrial DNA are associated with cognitive dysfunction in treated older adults with HIV

• Published in: Journal of neurovirology Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 218 - 224
• Main Authors: Johnston, Carrie D., de Menezes, Erika G. Marques, Bowler, Scott, Siegler, Eugenia L., Friday, Courtney, Norris, Philip J., Rice, Michelle C., Choi, Mary E., Glesby, Marshall J., Ndhlovu, Lishomwa C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.04.2023
• Subjects: Aged; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Case-Control Studies; Cell-Free Nucleic Acids - genetics; Cognitive Dysfunction - complications; Cognitive Dysfunction - genetics; DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics; Extracellular Vesicles; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - drug therapy; Humans; Immunology; Infectious Diseases; Neurology; Neurosciences; Short Communication; Virology; Mitochondria; HIV; Aging; Extracellular vesicles; Frailty; Cognition; Inflammation
• ISSN: 1355-0284; 1538-2443
• DOI: 10.1007/s13365-023-01122-6

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoparticles with a role in intercellular communication. Cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) has been associated with cognitive dysfunction in people with HIV (PWH). We conducted a nested case–control study to test the hypothesis that plasma EVs are associated with cf-mtDNA and cognitive dysfunction in older PWH. A machine learning-based model identified total EVs, including select EV subpopulations, as well as urine cf-mtDNA and 4-meter walk time carry power to predict the neurocognitive impairment. These features resulted in an AUC-ROC of 0.845 + / − 0.109 (0.615, 1.00).