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01-02-2015

Genetic predictor of working memory and prefrontal function in women with HIV

Authors: Erin E. Sundermann, Jeffrey R. Bishop, Leah H. Rubin, Deborah M. Little, Vanessa J. Meyer, Eileen Martin, Kathleen Weber, Mardge Cohen, Pauline M. Maki

Published in: Journal of NeuroVirology | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

The Val158Met (rs4680) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT) influences executive function and prefrontal function through its effect on dopamine (DA) metabolism. Both HIV and the Val allele of the Val158Met SNP are associated with compromised executive function and inefficient prefrontal function. The present study used behavioral and neuroimaging techniques to determine independent and interactive associations between HIV serostatus and COMT genotype on working memory and prefrontal function in women. For the behavioral study, 54 HIV-infected and 33 HIV-uninfected women completed the 0-, 1-, and 2-back conditions of the verbal N-back, a working memory test. For the imaging study, 36 women (23 HIV-infected, 13 HIV-uninfected) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) assessments while completing the N-back task. HIV-infected women demonstrated significantly worse N-back performance compared with HIV-uninfected women (p < 0.05). A significant serostatus by genotype interaction (p < 0.01) revealed that, among Val/Val, but not Met allele carriers, HIV-infected women performed significantly worse than HIV-uninfected controls across N-back conditions (p < 0.01). Analogous to behavioral findings, a serostatus by genotype interaction revealed that HIV-infected Val/Val carriers showed significantly greater prefrontal activation compared with HIV-uninfected Val/Val carriers (p < 0.01). Conversely, HIV-uninfected Met allele carriers demonstrated significantly greater prefrontal activation compared with HIV-infected Met allele carriers. Findings suggest that the combination of HIV infection and the Val/Val COMT genotype leads to working memory deficits and altered prefrontal function in HIV-infected individuals.

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Title: Genetic predictor of working memory and prefrontal function in women with HIV
Authors: Erin E. Sundermann
Jeffrey R. Bishop
Leah H. Rubin
Deborah M. Little
Vanessa J. Meyer
Eileen Martin
Kathleen Weber
Mardge Cohen
Pauline M. Maki
Publication date: 01-02-2015
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of NeuroVirology / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 1355-0284
Electronic ISSN: 1538-2443
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13365-014-0305-z

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Genetic predictor of working memory and prefrontal function in women with HIV

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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