Downregulation of SERINC5 expression in buffy coats of HIV-1-infected patients with detectable or undetectable viral load

Among the host restriction factors against HIV, SERINC5 has been described in vitro, but the mRNA level of SERINC5 in vivo has been little studied. We compare SERINC5 expression in subjects with HIV-1 (highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) and HAART-naive) with and without suppression of viral load. A cross-sectional study was performed with 107 individuals distributed as follows: 24 with HAART-naive and detectable viral load (> 50 copies/mL), 13 with HAART and detectable viral load (> 50 copies/mL), 50 with HAART and undetectable viral load (<= 50 copies/mL), and 20 without HIV-1. SERINC5 expression in buffy coats was determined using RT-qPCR. The viral load was determined using real-time PCR and the amount of CD4 + and CD8 + T-lymphocytes was measured using flow cytometry. The data were normalized with the Shapiro-Wilk test and the Kruskal-Wallis test was subsequently performed. The relative expression was compared with a T-test and the remaining data with the Mann-Whitney U-test. ANCOVA multiple linear regression analysis was performed between characteristics of patients with SERINC5 expression. The mean and SD of the SERINC5 expression in the three groups with HIV-1 was 0.9 +/- 0.2 and without HIV-1 was 1.7 +/- 0.14 (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression did not show the participation of CD4 +, CD8 + , viral load, infection time, or treatment time. No differences in the SERINC5 expression were found among the studied groups of patients with HIV-1. When comparing the groups with and without HIV-1 infection, SERINC5 was downregulation in the HIV-1 groups.