title: Molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuronal cell death in HIV dementia.
abstract: The deaths of neurons, astrocytes and endothelial cells have been described in patients with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) dementia. HIV-1 does not infect neurons; instead, neurotoxic substances shed by infected glia and macrophages can induce a form of programmed cell death called apoptosis in neurons. These neurotoxins include the HIV-1 proteins Tat and gp120, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, excitotoxins and proteases. In this article we review the evidence for apoptosis of various cell types within the brain of HIV-infected patients, and describe in vitro and in vivo experimental studies that have elucidated the mechanisms by which HIV causes apoptosis of brain cells.
authors.affiliation: RT Johnson Division of Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infection, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galey
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mattson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nath
mesh_terms: D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D018925:Chemokines / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D009498:Neurotoxins; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D009498:Neurotoxins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II