Stem Cell-derived Microglia Exhibit HAND Gene Expression Signature Early Upon Infection with HIV-1 [iPSCMG]

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) persist as a notable cause of illness among individuals with HIV. Despite significant progress in antiretroviral therapy (ART), HAND continues to be a major concern, impacting approximately one-third of those infected with HIV. Recent research underscores the pivotal role of microglia, the primary immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS), in the development and progression of HAND. The infection and activation of microglia by HIV leads to the release of pro-inflammatory markers, cytokines, chemokines, secondary messengers, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). These factors collectively initiate signalling pathways that contribute to neuroinflammation, a central process in the development of HAND​​​​. In order to validate stem cell-derived microglia (iMGL) as a viable model system for HAND investigation, we infected iMGLs and human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) with the primary HIV-1 isolate Ba-L at an MOI of 0.25. Total RNA was extracted from cell populations on days 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 following infection. Subsequently, we conducted bulk RNA sequencing to examine the longitudinal transcriptomic alterations induced by the virus over this time frame