Andrea Raymond,
Associate Professor, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine,
Florida International University
Dr. Raymond is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Immunology and Nanomedicine at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University, Miami, FL. She heads a research group investigating the role of extracellular vesicles(EVs) in the pathology associated with substance use disorders, HIV NeuroAIDS, and HIV-related cancers. Dr. Raymond lab is among the first to demonstrate a potential role for exosomal EVs in HIV-associated neuropathogenesis. Her research group has shown in vitro that HIV-infected cells release EVs containing the HIV Nef protein and has demonstrated ex vivo the presence Nef-containing EVs in the serum of aviremic HIV-infected subjects. However, the functional role of these Nef-containing EVs in HIV neuropathogenesis is still unknown. Dr. Raymond seeks to understand how the content (and function) of brain and immune cell-derived EVs vary upon HIV infection and opiate exposure to identify EV-based biomarkers of HIV neuropathogenesis and opiate use disorder.
Opiates and HIV Alter Exosomal EV microRNA Cargo
Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 12:00
Add to Calendar ▼2023-11-30 12:00:002023-11-30 13:00:00Europe/LondonOpiates and HIV Alter Exosomal EV microRNA CargoExtracellular Vesicles and Cell-Free RNAs 2023 in Laguna Hills, CaliforniaLaguna Hills, CaliforniaSELECTBIOenquiries@selectbiosciences.com
Opiate abuse increases the risk of HIV transmission and exacerbates Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) neuropathology by increasing inflammation and modulating immune cell function. However, the exact mechanism(S) for these observations is unclear Exosomal EVs(xEV) contain miRNAs that are differentially expressed due to HIV infection or opiate abuse. Here we developed a preliminary exosomal-miRNA biomarker profile of HIV-infected PBMCs in the context of opiate use. Functional studies show that xEVs derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) exposed to opiates reduced viability and function of neurons. Using Nanostring microRNA arrays we show that morphine and HIV induced differential miRNA expression in PBMC-derived exosomes, potentially identifying a biomarker of opiate use disorder(OUD) and mechanisms of action or novel therapeutic targets involved in OUD, neuropathology, TNF-a signaling pathway, NF-kB signaling pathway, autophagy, and apoptosis in context of HIV infection.
