title: Astrocyte activation and apoptosis: their roles in the neuropathology of HIV infection.
abstract: Astrogliosis is a common neuropathological finding in the brains of HIV infected individuals; both activation and apoptosis of astrocytes are seen. This review aims to discuss the Fas pathway in the context of proliferation and apoptosis of astrocytes during HIV infection, and as a result of astrogliosis, the dysregulation of astrocyte-neuron networks. The presence of molecules reflecting astrocyte activation, which are derived from the solubilization of receptor/ligand from the surface of proliferating astrocytes, in the cerebrospinal fluid may be used to evaluate the degree of brain cell activation during HAART therapy. A better understanding of the molecular pathway(s) leading to increase activation and apoptosis of astrocytes, in parallel with studies conducted to unravel the molecules involved in T-cell apoptosis during HIV infection, may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for controlling HIV replication and tissue damage.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Tumor Biology Center, Karolinska Institute, Nobels väg 16, S-17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Farideh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sabri
authors.forename: Kehmia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Titanji
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Milito
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiodi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005911:Gliosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D019014:fas Receptor