Microglia in HIV-associated neurological diseases. |
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Authors: | J D Glass S L Wesselingh |
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Affiliation: | Departments of Neurology and Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. jglas03@emory.edu |
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Abstract: | 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. |
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Keywords: | macrophage astrocytes dementia neurotoxicity cytokines |
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