An Investigation of Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) in People with HIV: Associations with Experimental Pain Sensitivity

Authors

• Shannon Gilstrap, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Advisor(s)

Robert Sorge
Burel Goodin

Committee Member(s)

Christianne Strang
Scott Ballinger
Shannon Bailey

School

College of Arts and Sciences

Document Type

Dissertation

Department (new version)

Psychology

Date of Award

9-9-2024

Abstract

People with HIV (PWH) have a higher chance of developing comorbidities as they age. Two specific comorbidities found amongst PWH are chronic pain and sleep disturbances. The premise of this dissertation was to examine a potent driver of pain with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) as a key mechanism linking chronic pain and insomnia with pain sensitivity. It has yet to be tested in PWH, but it stands to reason that mitochondrial DAMPs might serve as a link between insomnia and pain in PWH. This study was designed to address whether chronic pain and insomnia promote pain sensitivity and mitochondrial DAMPs in PWH. The current dissertation included three studies to examine the impact of pain and insomnia on mtDNA DAMPs within PWH utilizing Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST)as an acute stressor. Blood was drawn for each participant before and following the QST to examine mitochondrial DAMPs (ND1 and ND6) in all three studies. Additional mitochondrial variables were examined in Study 1, such as mtDNA damage and copy number. Study 1 found that ND6 and mtDNA damage were shown to be statistically significant between pain groups. Additionally, PWH with chronic pain showed greater mitochondrial reactivity to laboratory stressors. Study 2 examined insomnia as a potent driver of pain with mitochondrial DAMPs as a key mechanism linking insomnia and pain sensitivity. It found that there was no statistically significant effect of HIV and insomnia on mtDNA or interaction between HIV and insomnia. Additionally, there was found to be no difference mtDNA DAMPs between the two blood draws and between the various groups (i.e. HIV with and without insomnia and HIV- with and without insomnia). Lastly, study 3 examined the change in mtDNA DAMPs following exposure to QST and found that ND1 and ND6 were not significantly different across the three different blood draws.

ProQuest ID

https://proquest.com/docview/3101958802