title: Characterization of neuropathology in the HIV-1 transgenic rat at different ages.
abstract: The transgenic HIV-1 rat (Tg) is a commonly used neuroHIV model with documented neurologic/behavioral deficits. Using immunofluorescent staining of the Tg brain, we found astrocytic dysfunction/damage, as well as dopaminergic neuronal loss/dysfunction, both of which worsening significantly in the striatum with age. We saw mild microglial activation in young Tg brains, but this decreased with age. There were no differences in neurogenesis potential suggesting a neurodegenerative rather than a neurodevelopmental process. Gp120 CSF levels exceeded serum gp120 levels in some animals, suggesting local viral protein production in the brain. Further probing of the pathophysiology underlying astrocytic injury in this model is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Center for Infectious Disease Imaging (CIDI), Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: Center for Infectious Disease Imaging (CIDI), Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Wael G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: Frank Laboratory, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Saejeong J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Denaro
authors.affiliation: Center for Infectious Disease Imaging (CIDI), Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casas
authors.affiliation: Center for Infectious Disease Imaging (CIDI), Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Dianne E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Intermural Research (DIR), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maric
authors.affiliation: Center for Infectious Disease Imaging (CIDI), Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. Electronic address: hammoudd@cc.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Dima A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hammoud
mesh_terms: D016263:AIDS-Associated Nephropathy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000502:physiology*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000235:genetics; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D055647:Rats, Transgenic; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C100745:Aif1 protein, rat; D039481:CD11b Antigen; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
keywords: Astrocytic loss; HIV-1 transgenic rat; Neuro-HIV; Neuropathology; Neurotoxicity; Viral proteins