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Extensive astrocyte infection is prominent in human immunodeficiency virus–associated dementia
Author(s) -
Churchill Melissa J.,
Wesselingh Steven L.,
Cowley Daniel,
Pardo Carlos A.,
McArthur Justin C.,
Brew Bruce J.,
Gorry Paul R.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.21697
Subject(s) - astrocyte , laser capture microdissection , virology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , biology , dementia , immunology , microglia , medicine , pathology , central nervous system , neuroscience , gene expression , inflammation , gene , biochemistry , disease
Astrocyte infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is considered rare, so astrocytes are thought to play a secondary role in HIV neuropathogenesis. By combining double immunohistochemistry, laser capture microdissection, and highly sensitive multiplexed polymerase chain reaction to detect HIV DNA in single astrocytes in vivo, we showed that astrocyte infection is extensive in subjects with HIV‐associated dementia, occurring in up to 19% of GFAP+ cells. In addition, astrocyte infection frequency correlated with the severity of neuropathological changes and proximity to perivascular macrophages. Our data indicate that astrocytes can be extensively infected with HIV, and suggest an important role for HIV‐infected astrocytes in HIV neuropathogenesis. Ann Neurol 2009;66:253–258