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Microglia in HIV‐associated neurological diseases
Author(s) -
Glass Jonathan D.,
Wesselingh Steve L.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.1124
Subject(s) - microglia , immune system , central nervous system , neuroscience , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , macrophage , nervous system , disease , immunology , virus , cytotoxic t cell , biology , medicine , virology , inflammation , pathology , in vitro , biochemistry
Human immunodeficiency virus type‐1 (HIV‐1) is a neurotropic virus linked to a variety of progressive neurologic disorders. This review describes our current understanding of how HIV‐1 enters the nervous system and interacts with neuronal and non‐neuronal cells to initiate and sustain neurologic dysfunction. The overwhelming majority of cells infected with HIV‐1 in the nervous system are microglia/macrophages. Microglial/macrophage infection leads to immune dysregulation as well as production and release of cytotoxic molecules. Interaction of these infected cells with astrocytes may accelerate neurotoxic mechanisms. A hypothetical scenario for how HIV‐1 infection leads to neurologic disease is presented. Microsc. Res. Tech. 54:95–105, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.