Current HIV Research - Volume 10, Issue 5, 2012

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HIV-1 infection is a global public health problem with more than 34 million people living with HIV infection. Although great strides have been made in treating this epidemic with therapeutic agents, the increase in patient life span has been coincident with an increase in the prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). HAND is thought to result from the neurotoxic effects of viral proteins that are shed from H Read More

Physiologically appropriate levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are likely important to varied aspects of CNS function. In particular, these enzymes may contribute to neuronal activity dependent synaptic plasticity and to cell mobility in processes including stem cell migration and immune surveillance. Levels of MMPs may, however, be substantially increased in the setting of HIV infection with methamphetamine ab Read More

Glutamate, the most abundant excitatory transmitter in the brain can lead to neurotoxicity when not properly regulated. Excitotoxicity is a direct result of abnormal regulation of glutamate concentrations in the synapse, and is a common neurotoxic mediator associated with neurodegenerative disorders. It is well accepted that methamphetamine (METH), a potent central nervous stimulant with high abuse pot Read More

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that the use of methamphetamine (METH), a sympathomimetic stimulant, is particularly common among patients infected with HIV. In vitro studies have determined that METH enhances HIV infection of CD4+ T cells, monocyte-derived dendritic cells, and macrophages. In addition, animal studies have also showed that METH treatment increases brain viral load of SIV-infected mo Read More

Since the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in the mid-90s, the most severe forms of HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) have diminished. However, milder forms of HAND remain prevalent. Basic and clinical studies implicate alterations in the dopaminergic (DAergic) system in HIV-1 infection. We used the Fischer 344 HIV-1 transgenic (HIV-1 Tg) rat, which expresses 7 of the 9 HI Read More

Although antiretrovirals are the mainstay of therapy against HIV infection, neurological complications associated with the virus continue to hamper quality of life of the infected individuals. Drugs of abuse in the infected individuals further fuel the epidemic. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that abuse of cocaine resulted in acceleration of HIV infection and the progression of NeuroAIDS. Cocaine has not only be Read More

Studies have demonstrated that infection with HIV-1 (subtypes) clades might differentially contribute to HIV- 1-associated neuro cognitive disorder (HAND). Substance abuse and illicit drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine (METH) are also known to play a role in neuronal impairments. Neurotoxin quinolinic acid (QUIN) and arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites are regulators of central nervous system (CNS) functions. These Read More

Opiate abuse and HIV-1 have been described as interrelated epidemics, and even in the advent of combined anti-retroviral therapy, the additional abuse of opiates appears to result in greater neurologic and cognitive deficits. The central nervous system (CNS) is particularly vulnerable to interactive opiate-HIV-1 effects, in part because of the unique responses of microglia and astroglia. Although neurons are principally res Read More

Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) and its associated proteins can have a profound impact on the central nervous system. Co-morbid abuse of opiates, such as morphine and heroin, is often associated with rapid disease progression and greater neurological dysfunction. The mechanisms by which HIV proteins and opiates cause neuronal damage on their own and together are unclear. The emergence of ferritin heavy chai Read More

Opioid use in HIV infection has been associated with an increased frequency of neurological disease and cognitive impairment and vitamin A deficiency has been linked to progressive HIV disease in drug users. In this report the potential effects of these factors, alone and in combination, on gamma amino butyric acid (GABA)-expression interneurons in hippocampus in the HIV-1 transgenic rat (TG) model were studied. TG Read More

Drug abuse and HIV infection are interlinked. From the onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the impact of illicit drug use on HIV disease progression has been a focus of many investigations. Both laboratory-based and epidemiological studies strongly indicate that drug abuse may exacerbate HIV disease progression and increase mortality and morbidity in these patients. Increase susceptibility to opportunistic infection has been im Read More