Development of HIV encephalitis in AIDS and TNF-alpha regulatory elements.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) appears to play an important role in HIV encephalitis (HIVE). TNF2, a polymorphism of TNF-alpha, associates with higher levels of TNF-alpha and severe manifestations of some infections. We studied 44 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with autopsy-proven HIVE and/or HIV leukoencephalopathy (HIVLE) (HIVE/LE) and 30 AIDS patients without HIVE/LE. TNF2 did not associate with presence of HIVE/LE (p > 0.5). Moreover, the TNF-alpha regulatory element TTATTTAT within the 3'-untranslated region was intact in HIVE/LE brains, and HLA-DR3 did not associate with HIVE/LE. Other host factors or, more likely, viral factors may be responsible for the development of HIVE/LE.
Sato-Matsumura
K C
KC
Institute of Neurology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Berger
J
J
Hainfellner
J A
JA
Mazal
P
P
Budka
H
H
D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D000483:Alleles; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D006678:HIV; D015803:HLA-DR3 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015803:HLA-DR3 Antigen; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha