Converging roles for sphingolipids and cell stress in the progression of neuro-AIDS.
Sphingolipids are a class of lipids enriched in the central nervous system that have important roles in signal transduction. Recent advances in our understanding of how sphingolipids are involved in the control of life and death signaling have uncovered roles for these lipids in the neuropathogenesis of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). In this review we briefly summarize the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathological production of the toxic sphingolipid, ceramide and address questions of how cytokine and cellular stress pathways that are perturbed in HAND converge to deregulate ceramide-associated signaling.
Department of Neurology, Richard T Johnson Division of Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infections, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. nhaughe1@jhmi.edu
Norman J
NJ
Haughey
Joesph
J
Steiner
Avindra
A
Nath
Justin C
JC
McArthur
Ned
N
Sacktor
Carlos
C
Pardo
Veera Venkata Ratnam
VV
Bandaru
D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002518:Ceramides / Q000633:toxicity; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000502:physiology* / Q000633:toxicity
D002518:Ceramides; D013107:Sphingolipids