Makobetsa Khati
CSIR Biosciences, South Africa
Title: Synthetic RNA molecule mitigates HIV-induced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and also prevents HIV infection
Biography
Biography: Makobetsa Khati
Abstract
Chronic HIV infection causes a broad range of clinical complications, some of which remain poorly understood. One such complication is HIV-associated cardiomyopathy (HIVCM). In this study, we evaluated a novel approach to mitigate HIVCM using synthetic RNA molecules called aptamers. Specifically, we used a shortened synthetic derivative of anti-gp120 aptamer called UCLA1. The aptamer protected cardiomyocytes from HIV induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the aptamer also prevented infection of human macrophages and CD4+ T cells by a broad range of clinical isolates of HIV-1 from different subtypes. Taken together, these data argue in favor of further development of this RNA synthetic molecule to prevent HIV infection in uninfected individuals, and also to mitigate AIDS pathogenesis such as HIVCM in already infected individuals.