Biomarkers of neurological status in HIV infection: a 3-year study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate circulating cytokines and chemokines as correlates of the degree of brain injury in individuals with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.


METHODS
Study participants included ten well-characterized subjects in advanced stage HIV infection. High-throughput multiplexed analysis was used to quantify markers of interest at baseline and 3 years later in the clinical course. Objective measurements of the brain were derived in vivo with quantitative magnetic resonance segmentation algorithms and with diffusion tensor imaging.


RESULTS
Of the markers examined, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1 or CCL-2) was the most prominent correlate of brain injury. Elevated MCP-1 levels correlated with brain white matter alterations at the initial assessment. The relationship to injury was more extensive 3 years later; elevated MCP-1 was significantly correlated with measures of brain microstructural alterations and of abject atrophy.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings build on our prior observations that elevated MCP-1 levels may be a useful predictive marker for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder. As a potent chemoattractant, MCP-1 may mediate injury through participation in self-reinforcing cycles of chronic immune activation and cytokine/chemokine-mediated neurotoxicity.
Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. ann-ragin@northwestern.edu
Ann B
AB
Ragin
Ying
Y
Wu
Renee
R
Ochs
Rachel
R
Scheidegger
Bruce A
BA
Cohen
Robert R
RR
Edelman
Leon G
LG
Epstein
Justin
J
McArthur
D016263:AIDS-Associated Nephropathy / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D015415:Biomarkers; D018925:Chemokines