# Cigarette smoke alters circRNA expression in human T-cells

## TL;DR

Cigarette smoke changes the expression of circular RNAs in human T-cells, which could impact diseases like HIV.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific circRNAs altered by cigarette smoke exposure in T-cells.

## Key findings

- Certain circRNAs were upregulated in T-cells exposed to cigarette smoke.
- Other circRNAs were downregulated in T-cells exposed to cigarette smoke.
- These findings suggest circRNAs may be relevant in the context of HIV and smoking.

## Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), once thought to be a result of splicing errors, have been found to be involved in various molecular processes and the pathology of various diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, circRNA expression was found to be altered by lifestyle habits, such as smoking cigarettes. Past studies have revealed that the rate of smoking remains high in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In this study, we isolated total RNA from uninfected T-cells that have been exposed to cigarette smoke and compared the expression levels of circRNAs to those of T-cells that were not exposed to cigarette smoke. We identified certain circRNAs that were upregulated or downregulated in T-cells when exposed to cigarette smoke. These data indicate that the study of circRNAs is warranted within the context of HIV.