HIV-1 Envelope gp120 Alters Astrocytes in Human Brain Cultures

Lynn Pulliam, David West, Nancy Haigwood, Raymond A. Swanson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

67 Scopus citations

Abstract

The majority of AIDS patients will experience some degree of dementia induced by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). In this study, we report that treatment of human brain tissue with envelope gp120 of HIV-1 did not cause neuronal death but did cause astrocyte alterations and/or death. Human astrocyte cultures showed decreased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), as well as the diminution of a major protein of 66 kDa. These findings are similar to the in vitro changes observed when astrocytes are exposed to ammonia and in vivo changes observed in experimental hepatic encephalopathy. We hypothesize that AIDS dementia may partially involve a perturbation of astrocyte function by gp120 that could indirectly impair neuronal function.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)439-444
Number of pages6
JournalAIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
Volume9
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1993
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

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