Exploring the relationship of macrophage colony-stimulating factor levels on neuroaxonal metabolism and cognition during chronic human immunodeficiency virus infection.
Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) promotes macrophage differentiation, increases susceptibility of macrophages to viral infection, and enhances human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication in infected macrophages. Given the current model of HIV neuropathogenesis, which involves monocyte trafficking into the central nervous system, immune factors linked with macrophage maturation and survival may be associated with cognitive decline (measured by neuropsychological z-score [NPZ-8] or Memorial Sloan-Kettering [MSK] score) and alterations in a marker of neuronal integrity, N-acetylaspartate (NAA). Fifty-four chronically infected HIV+ subjects underwent neuropsychological assessment, magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging, and quantification of M-CSF in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at baseline. Thirty-nine of those subjects underwent further examination at 3 and 10 months after initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens. Within 3 months of therapy use, CSF M-CSF and viral RNA levels were reduced, whereas NAA concentrations in many brain regions were increased. Neither baseline levels nor the change in M-CSF levels had the ability to predict changes in NAA levels observed after 10 months of combination ART use. At study entry those with the lowest M-CSF levels in the CSF had the least cognitive impairment (NPZ-8). Those who had higher baseline CSF M-CSF levels and exhibited larger decreases in M-CSF after therapy, tended to have greater cognitive improvement after 10 months. Increased prevalence of M-CSF in the setting of HIV infection could contribute to neuronal injury and may be predictive of cognitive impairment.
Lentz
Margaret R
MR
Department of Neuroradiology and the A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.
Degaonkar
Mahaveer
M
Mohamed
Mona A
MA
Kim
Hyun
H
Conant
Katherine
K
Halpern
Elkan F
EF
Sacktor
Ned
N
Barker
Peter B
PB
Pomper
Martin G
MG
D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003071:Cognition; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011379:Prognosis
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; C000179:N-acetylaspartate