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Novel expression of PINCH in the central nervous system and its potential as a biomarker for human immunodeficiency virus‐associated neurodegeneration
Author(s) -
Rearden Ann,
Hurford Rosemary,
Luu Nhan,
Kieu Emily,
Sandoval Melissa,
PerezLiz Georgina,
Del Valle Luis,
Powell Henry,
Langford T. Dianne
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.21701
Subject(s) - central nervous system , white matter , neuropathology , oligodendrocyte , neuroscience , neurodegeneration , biology , pinch , pathology , immunology , medicine , disease , myelin , physics , nuclear physics , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology
Particularly interesting cysteine histidine‐rich (PINCH) protein functions as a shuttling protein in Schwann cells after peripheral nerve damage, during repair and remodeling, and in maintaining neuronal polarity. However, the presence of PINCH in the human CNS during disease has not been addressed. Because HIV‐associated damage to cells of the CNS involves dysregulation of neuronal signaling and white matter damage, we hypothesized that PINCH may play a role in neuropathological processes during the course of HIV infection. To determine the expression of PINCH in the CNS, brain, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained at autopsy from HIV patients with no CNS alterations, HIV encephalitic (HIVE) patients, and HIV‐negative individuals with no CNS alterations were examined for PINCH immunoreactivity. Our results show that PINCH is expressed robustly in the brains and CSF of HIV patients, but is nearly undetectable in HIV‐negative individuals. However, HIVE patients' CSF contained significantly less PINCH than HIV patients with no CNS alterations. PINCH immunolabeling was significantly more intense in the white matter than in the grey matter and was associated exclusively with neuronal cell bodies or processes, or with the extracellular matrix. Given the recently discovered importance of PINCH in maintaining neuronal fitness, our observations that PINCH is robustly expressed in the CNS of HIV patients suggests an important role for PINCH in HIV‐associated neurodegenerative processes. Understanding mechanisms by which PINCH functions during HIV‐associated CNS alterations will provide new insight into potential treatments to limit neurological alterations in HIV. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.