This study investigated the potential of five miRNA candidates for cerebral toxoplasmosis/HIV co-infection (CT/HIV) biomarkers. miR-155-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-125b-5p and miR-29c-3p were tested in 79 plasma divided into groups: 32 CT/HIV patients; 27 individuals with asymptomatic toxoplasmosis (AT); and 20 individuals seronegative for toxoplasmosis (NC). From each was collected peripheral blood/EDTA for laboratory diagnosis. Blood cells for DNA extractions (molecular diagnosis), plasma for RNA extractions (gene expression) and ELISA (serological diagnosis). miRNA expression was performed by qPCR, and values were expressed in Relative Quantification (RQ). Among the five miRNAs, miR-21-5p and miR-146a-5p were up-expressed in CT/HIV group when compared with AT and NC groups. RQ means for miR-21-5p and miR-146a-5p in CT/HIV group were 3.829 and 2.500, while in AT group, were 1.815 and 1.661, respectively. Differences between 3 groups were statistically significant (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test), as well as CT/HIV and AT groups (Mann-Whitney test). Plasma of CT/HIV and AT groups expressed similar levels of miR-29c-3p, miR-155-5p and miR-125b-5p. As NC group was different of CT/HIV and AT groups, differences between three groups were statistically significant (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test). No difference was shown between CT/HIV and AT groups (Mann-Whitney test). These results suggest the host miRNAs modulation by Toxoplasma gondii.

中文翻译：

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血浆细胞外微小RNA与艾滋病/脑弓形虫病的共同感染有关。

这项研究调查了5种候选miRNA用于脑弓形虫病/ HIV合并感染（CT / HIV）生物标志物的潜力。在79个血浆中分别对miR-155-5p，miR-146a-5p，miR-21-5p，miR-125b-5p和miR-29c-3p进行了测试：32名CT / HIV患者；27例无症状弓形虫病（AT）；和20例弓形虫病（NC）血清阴性。从每个收集的外周血/ EDTA进行实验室诊断。用于DNA提取的血细胞（分子诊断），用于RNA提取的血浆（基因表达）和ELISA（血清学诊断）。通过qPCR进行miRNA表达，并以相对定量（RQ）表示值。在五个miRNA中，与AT和NC组相比，CT / HIV组中的miR-21-5p和miR-146a-5p表达高。CT / HIV组中miR-21-5p和miR-146a-5p的RQ平均值为3。AT组的829和2.500分别为1.815和1.661。3组之间的差异具有统计学意义（Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA检验），以及CT / HIV和AT组（Mann-Whitney检验）。CT / HIV和AT组的血浆表达的miR-29c-3p，miR-155-5p和miR-125b-5p的水平相似。由于NC组与CT / HIV组和AT组不同，因此三组之间的差异具有统计学意义（Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA检验）。CT / HIV组和AT组之间无差异（Mann-Whitney检验）。这些结果表明弓形虫对宿主miRNA的调节。CT / HIV和AT组的血浆表达的miR-29c-3p，miR-155-5p和miR-125b-5p的水平相似。由于NC组与CT / HIV组和AT组不同，因此三组之间的差异具有统计学意义（Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA检验）。CT / HIV组和AT组之间无差异（Mann-Whitney检验）。这些结果表明弓形虫对宿主miRNA的调节。CT / HIV和AT组的血浆表达的miR-29c-3p，miR-155-5p和miR-125b-5p的水平相似。由于NC组与CT / HIV组和AT组不同，因此三组之间的差异具有统计学意义（Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA检验）。CT / HIV组和AT组之间无差异（Mann-Whitney检验）。这些结果表明弓形虫对宿主miRNA的调节。