HIV-1 envelope gp120 alters astrocytes in human brain cultures. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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HIV-1 envelope gp120 alters astrocytes in human brain cultures.

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1993 May;9(5):439-44. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/93305383
Pulliam L; West D; Haigwood N; Swanson RA; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San; Francisco.

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.
Keywords: Astrocytes/*DRUG EFFECTS/METABOLISM/PATHOLOGY AIDS Dementia Complex/ETIOLOGY Binding Sites Brain/DRUG EFFECTS/METABOLISM/PATHOLOGY Cell Aggregation/DRUG EFFECTS Cell Death/DRUG EFFECTS Cells, Cultured Human HIV Envelope Protein gp120/METABOLISM/*TOXICITY HIV-1/*PATHOGENICITY Macrophages/DRUG EFFECTS Microscopy, Electron Nerve Tissue Proteins/METABOLISM Neurons/DRUG EFFECTS Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. JOURNAL ARTICLEKWDastrocytes/KWDdrugeffects/metabolism/pathologyaidsdementiacomplex/etiologybindingsitesbrain/drugeffects/metabolism/pathologycellaggregation/drugeffectscelldeath/drugeffectscells,culturedhumanhivenvelopeproteingp120/metabolism/KWDtoxicityhiv-1/KWDpathogenicitymacrophages/drugeffectsmicroscopy,electronnervetissueproteins/metabolismneurons/drugeffectssupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tsupport,uKWDsKWDgov't,non-pKWDhKWDsKWDjournalarticle
931030
M93A0725

Copyright © 1993 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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