Integrated transcriptomic profiling of rectal and adipose HIV-1 reservoirs relative to matched PBMCs in ART-treated individuals - Report - MDSpire

Integrated transcriptomic profiling of rectal and adipose HIV-1 reservoirs relative to matched PBMCs in ART-treated individuals

  • By

  • Jie Qin

  • Peiming Huang

  • Minghua Chen

  • Hua Zong

  • Jingjing Luo

  • Jianteng Zeng

  • Xu Zhang

  • Shiting Huang

  • Jianqiang Zou

  • Xin He

  • Shuangxin Wu

  • Liqin Sun

  • Ting Pan

  • July 7, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Report: Comprehensive Transcriptomic Analysis of HIV-1 Reservoirs

Overview

This study identifies rectal and adipose tissues as significant HIV-1 reservoirs in individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART). It highlights distinct transcriptomic responses in these tissues.

Background

HIV-1 persistence in anatomical reservoirs poses a significant challenge to achieving a functional cure, even with ART. Understanding the role of various tissues, particularly rectal and adipose tissues, in harboring the virus is important.

Data Highlights

Tissue TypeHIV-1 DNA Load
Rectal TissueHigher than PBMCs
Adipose TissueHigher than PBMCs

Key Findings

  • Higher viral DNA loads were confirmed in rectal and adipose tissues compared to matched PBMCs.
  • Rectal reservoirs showed ECM reorganization and epithelial barrier dysfunction.
  • Adipose tissue exhibited dysregulation in cell cycle progression and immunometabolic signaling.
  • The PI3K-Akt signaling pathway was identified as a common feature across rectal and adipose tissues.
  • COL1A1 and CX3CR1 showed tissue-specific expression patterns at both mRNA and protein levels.

Clinical Implications

The findings emphasize the need to consider anatomical reservoirs beyond PBMCs in HIV-1 research and treatment strategies.

Conclusion

This comprehensive analysis reveals distinct transcriptomic alterations in HIV-1 reservoirs.

Related Resources & Content

  1. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2026 -- Localized Reservoirs of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in Intestinal Monocytes and Macrophages During Antiretroviral Treatment
  2. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2026 -- The Role of Adipose Tissue Gene Expression and Plasma Lipid Profiles in Cardiometabolic Disorders Among Individuals Living with HIV
  3. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2026 -- Exploring the Role of the Gut Microbiome in HIV Reservoir Behavior
  4. The Journal of Infectious Diseases — Galectin 9 Levels as a Potential Predictor of Intact HIV Reservoir Decay
  5. HIV/AIDS Treatment Guidelines | Clinicalinfo.HIV.gov
  6. Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy | NIH
  7. Laboratory Testing: Plasma HIV-1 RNA (Viral Load) and CD4 Count Monitoring | NIH
  8. Discontinuation or Interruption of Antiretroviral Therapy
  9. Latent HIV Reservoir
  10. Analytical Treatment Interruption (ATI) | NIH
  11. The place to be: HIV persistence within tissue reservoirs - PubMed
  12. HIV Reservoirs in Brain parenchyma and Cerebrospinal Fluid During Suppressive ART: Same-Same or Very Different? | Current HIV/AIDS Reports | Springer Nature Link
  13. JCI - Single-cell characterization of the gastrointestinal HIV reservoir reveals heterogeneous cellular phenotypes
  14. HIV Reservoir Dynamics and Bacteriome Composition Along the Gut Axis - PubMed
  15. First-line dolutegravir/lamivudine penetrates lymph nodes and reduces HIV reservoirs comparably to triple therapy - PubMed
  16. 3BNC117 versión para pacientes | NIH
  17. Most Cases of HIV Persistence in Blood Following Treatment Explained by Defective Copies of the Virus | Johns Hopkins Medicine
  18. 2026 2026 Conference on Retroviruses Conference on

Original Source(s)

Integrated transcriptomic profiling of rectal and adipose HIV-1 reservoirs relative to matched PBMCs in ART-treated individuals

  • by Jie Qin, Peiming Huang, Minghua Chen, Hua Zong, Jingjing Luo, Jianteng Zeng, Xu Zhang, Shiting Huang, Jianqiang Zou, Xin He, Shuangxin Wu, Liqin Sun, Ting Pan

  • July 7, 2026

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