title: Implementing neuronal plasticity in NeuroAIDS: the experience of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and other neurotrophic factors.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV) causes mild or severe neurological problems, termed HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), even when HIV patients receive antiretroviral therapy. Thus, novel adjunctive therapies are necessary to reduce or abolish the neurotoxic effect of HIV. However, new therapies require a better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of HIV-induced neurotoxicity. HAND subjects are characterized by being profoundly depressed, and they experience deficits in memory, learning and movements. Experimental evidence has also shown that HIV reduces neurogenesis. These deficits resemble those occurring in premature brain aging or in a brain with impaired neural repair properties. Thus, it appears that HIV diminishes neuronal survival, along with reduced neuronal connections. These two phenomena should not occur in the adult and developing brain when synaptic plasticity is promoted by neurotrophic factors, polypeptides that are present in adult synapses. This review will outline experimental evidence as well as present emerging concepts for the use of neurotrophic factors and in particular brain-derived neurotrophic factor as an adjunct therapy to prevent HIV-mediated neuronal degeneration and restore the loss of synaptic connections.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Preclinical Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, WP13 New Research Building, 3970 Reservoir Rd, NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA, moccheti@georgetown.edu.
authors.forename: Italo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mocchetti
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bachis
authors.forename: Lee A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Valeriya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Avdoshina
mesh_terms: D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors