Figure 3.

HIV infection increases expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) mRNA and protein in human ventricular heart tissue. A: Representative quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) amplifications for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and Cx43. B: Quantification of the RT-qPCR experiments for tissues from uninfected and HIV-infected hearts. HIV infection (independent of antiretroviral treatment, CD4 counts, replication, and associated inflammation) increases Cx43 expression (mRNA and protein). Each point represents one individual. C: Representative Western blot analysis of Cx43 and GAPDH protein expression in HIV⁻ and HIV⁺ hearts. GAPDH was used as a loading control; mouse astrocytes were used as a positive control for Cx43 and its phosphorylation (data not shown). D: Quantification of the Western blots for heart tissues obtained from uninfected and HIV-infected individuals. Each point represents one individual. Data are expressed as means ± SD. CT, cycle threshold.