title: Mechanisms of the blood-brain barrier disruption in HIV-1 infection.
abstract: (1) Alterations of brain microvasculature and the disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity are commonly associated with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. These changes are most frequently found in human immunodeficiency virus-related encephalitis (HIVE) and in human immunodeficiency virus-associated dementia (HAD). (2) It has been hypothesized that the disruption of the BBB occurs early in the course of HIV-1 infection and can be responsible for HIV-1 entry into the CNS. (3) The current review discusses the mechanisms of injury to brain endothelial cells and alterations of the BBB integrity in HIV-infection with focus on the vascular effects of HIV Tat protein. In addition, this review describes the mechanisms of the BBB disruption due to HIV-1 or Tat protein interaction with selected risk factors for HIV infection, such as substance abuse and aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA. mjtobo00@uky.edu
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toborek
authors.forename: Yong Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Govinder
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Flora
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.forename: Ibolya E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: András
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wylegala
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hennig
authors.forename: Avindra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nath
mesh_terms: D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans