18O proteomics reveal increased human apolipoprotein CIII in Hispanic HIV-1+ women with HAART that use cocaine

Purpose: Drug abuse is a major risk factor in the development and progression of HIV-1. This study defines the alterations in the plasma proteome of HIV-1-infected women that use cocaine.

Experimental design: Plasma samples from 12 HIV-seropositive Hispanic women under antiretroviral therapy were selected for this study. Six sample pairs were matched between nondrug users and cocaine users. After IgG and albumin depletion, SDS-PAGE, and in-gel digestion, peptides from nondrug users and cocaine users were labeled with (16) O and (18) O, respectively, and subjected to LC-MS/MS and quantitation using Proteome Discover and QuiXoT softwares and validated by ELISA.

Results: A total of 1015 proteins were identified at 1% false discovery rates (FDR). Statistical analyses revealed 13 proteins with significant changes between the two groups, cocaine and noncocaine users (p < 0.05). The great majority pertained to protection defense function and the rest pertained to transport, homeostatic, regulation, and binding of ligands. Apolipoprotein CIII was increased in plasma of HIV+ Hispanic women positive for cocaine compared to HIV+ nondrug users (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions and clinical relevance: Increased human apolipoprotein CIII warrants that these patients be carefully monitored to avoid the increased risk of cardiovascular events associated with HIV, HAART, and cocaine use.