Megh Mehta

Mr. Megh Mehta


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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Journal Article
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MMMegh Mehta
Megh Mehta
YLYang Li
Yang Li
SPSmriti Parashar
Smriti Parashar
CRCatalina Ramirez
Catalina Ramirez
HMHeather McKay
Heather McKay
Klaus LeyKlaus Ley
Klaus Ley
HIV infection is known to increase the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although almost 400 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are significantly associated with CAD alone, a subtype of CVD, the functions of most of these risk loci are unclear. Here, we investigated the impact of genetic variants/SNPs on the expression of nearby genes as potential cis expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTLs). We investigated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 31 participants in the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) using genotyping, single-cell (sc)RNA-seq, and CITE-seq. We found 187 statistically significant sc-eQTLs (single-cell eQTLs). In total, 160 were specific for just one immune cell type. We found a set of 3 sc-eQTLs impacting expression of IFNGR1 in CD4+ T cells at the mRNA and protein level as detected by flow cytometry. Two other sc-eQTLs representing one locus impact IFNG expression in CD8+ T cells, one of the primary sources of this cytokine. The sc-eQTLs impacting IFNG were associated with Th1 (T-helper1) gene expression patterns in CD4+ T cells in this cohort. These data suggest that some individuals are genetically predisposed to greater levels of Th1 polarization, which is known to be associated with atherosclerosis.