Effect of pre-exposure prophylaxis with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine on gene expression in the duodenum

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC) effectively prevents infection with HIV-1. We sought to determine how use of these medications affects gene expression. We performed a small, prospective trial (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02621242) of eight men initiating PrEP with TDF/FTC. We obtained duodenal biopsies before treatment initiation and after two months of daily use. We isolated RNA from duodenal biopsies preserved with RNAlater. Gene expression was measured from all eight men at both time points. Gene expression was measured by Illumina HumanHT-12 v4 Expression BeadChips. Samples were paired with samples taken at baseline (pre-treatment) and after two months of daily oral use. Duodenal biopsies were preserved with RNAlater at -80 degrees C. Samples were not replicated on the arrays.