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H E Gendelman

Publications and source records attributed to H E Gendelman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Neuronal fractalkine expression in HIV-1 encephalitis: roles for macrophage recruitment and neuroprotection in the central nervous system.

HIV-1 infection of the brain results in chronic inflammation, contributing to the neuropathogenesis of HIV-1 associated neurologic disease. HIV-1-infected mononuclear phagocytes (MP) present in inflammatory infiltrates produce neurotoxins that mediate inflammation, dysfunction, and neuronal apoptosis. Neurologic disease is correlated with the relative number of MP in and around inflammatory infiltrates and not viral burden. It is unclear whether these cells also play a neuroprotective role. We show that the chemokine, fractalkine (FKN), is markedly up-regulated in neurons and neuropil in brain tissue from pediatric patients with HIV-1 encephalitis (HIVE) compared with those without HIVE, or that were HIV-1 seronegative. FKN receptors are expressed on both neurons and microglia in patients with HIVE. These receptors are localized to cytoplasmic structures which are characterized by a vesicular appearance in neurons which may be in cell-to-cell contact with MPs. FKN colocalizes with glutamate in these neurons. Similar findings are observed in brain tissue from an adult patient with HIVE. FKN is able to potently induce the migration of primary human monocytes across an endothelial cell/primary human fetal astrocyte trans-well bilayer, and is neuroprotective to cultured neurons when coadministered with either the HIV-1 neurotoxin platelet activating factor (PAF) or the regulatory HIV-1 gene product Tat. Thus focal inflammation in brain tissue with HIVE may up-regulate neuronal FKN levels, which in turn may be a neuroimmune modulator recruiting peripheral macrophages into the brain, and in a paracrine fashion protecting glutamatergic neurons.

Adult↗

Evaluation of antiretroviral drug efficacy for HIV-1 encephalitis in SCID mice.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) abacavir, zidovudine (AZT), lamivudine (3TC), didanosine (ddI), and stavudine (d4T) to inhibit viral replication in brain macrophages. A severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse model of HIV-1 encephalitis (HIVE) was used to monitor spreading viral infection in the CNS. BACKGROUND: The development of antiretroviral therapies with CNS efficacy against neuroinvasive virus is important if eradication of HIV-1 can be achieved within critical "hidden reservoirs." METHODS: HIV-1-infected human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) (after a single round of viral replication) were inoculated into the caudate and putamen of SCID mice. This resulted in the spreading of viral infection with a concomitant multinucleated giant cell encephalitis (astrogliosis, microglial activation, and neuronal injury). NRTIs were administered to animals at the time of intracerebral MDM inoculations and continued until the time of sacrifice. Antiretroviral effects were assessed by viral load and percentages of infected MDMs. RESULTS: In brains of SCID mice with HIVE, abacavir and lamivudine reduced HIV-1 p24 antigen-positive cells by 80% and 95%, respectively, whereas both decreased viral load by approximately 1 log. Zidovudine, didanosine, and stavudine showed variable effects. CONCLUSION: Abacavir and lamivudine showed significant antiretroviral activity in SCID mice with HIVE when compared with other NRTIs. The extrapolation of these results to humans with HIV-1 dementia awaits future investigations.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

HIV-1 infected mononuclear phagocyte secretory products affect neuronal physiology leading to cellular demise: relevance for HIV-1-associated dementia.

Viral and cellular products from HIV-1-infected and/or immune competent mononuclear phagocytes (MP) (brain macrophages and microglia) affect neuronal function during HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD). Neurotoxic MP factors include, but are not limited to, pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, platelet activating factor, arachidonic acid and its metabolites, nitric oxide, progeny virions and viral structural and regulatory proteins. The mechanisms for immune-mediated neural injury in HAD, only now, are being unraveled. In this regard, we reviewed the current knowledge of how postmitotic neurons, which can neither divide nor be replaced, are damaged by MP secretory activities. Linking neuronal function with brain MP activation was made possible by placing viral and/or immune products onto neurons and measuring cell signaling events or through ex vivo electrophysiological tests on MP-treated brain slices. Such linkages are shown, in this report, by select demonstrations of MP factors which cause neuronal dysfunction in HAD.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Mononuclear phagocytes mediate blood-brain barrier compromise and neuronal injury during HIV-1-associated dementia.

The neuropathogenesis of HIV-1 infection revolves around the production of secretory factors from immune-activated brain mononuclear phagocytes (MP). MP-secreted chemokines may play several roles in HIV-1 encephalitis (HIVE). These can promote macrophage brain infiltration, blood-brain barrier (BBB) and neuronal dysfunction during HIV-1-associated dementia. We investigate how HIV-1-infected MP regulates the production of chemokines and how they influence HIV-1 neuropathogenesis. We demonstrate that HIV-1-infected and immune-activated MP (for example, microglia) and astrocytes produce beta-chemokines in abundance, as shown in both laboratory assays and within infected brain tissue. HIV-1-infected microglia significantly modulate monocyte migration in a BBB model system and in brains of SCID mice with HIVE. HIV-1-infected MP down-regulate tight junction protein and special polarized transport systems on brain microvascular endothelial cells as shown in human autopsy brain tissue and in SCID mice with HIVE. Chemokines can damage neurons directly. Toxicity caused by binding of stromal-derived factor-1alpha to its receptor on neurons exemplifies such mechanism. In toto, these works underscore the diverse roles of chemokines in HIV-1 neuropathogenesis and lay the foundation for future therapeutic interventions.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Intracellular CXCR4 signaling, neuronal apoptosis and neuropathogenic mechanisms of HIV-1-associated dementia.

The mechanism(s) by which HIV-1 affects neural injury in HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD) remains unknown. To ascertain the role that cellular and viral macrophage products play in HAD neurotoxicity, we explored one potential route for neuronal demise, CXCR4. CXCR4, expressed on lymphocytes and neurons, is both a part of neural development and a co-receptor for HIV-1. Its ligand, stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha), affects neuronal viability. GTP binding protein (G-protein) linked signaling after neuronal exposure to SDF-1alpha, virus-infected monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) secretory products, and virus was determined. In both human and rat neurons, CXCR4 was expressed at high levels. SDF-1alpha/beta was detected predominantly in astrocytes and at low levels in MDM. SDF-1beta/beta was expressed in HAD brain tissue and upregulated in astrocytes exposed to virus infected and/or immune activated MDM conditioned media (fluids). HIV-1-infected MDM secretions, virus and SDF-1beta induced a G inhibitory (Gi) protein-linked decrease in cyclic AMP (cAMP) and increase inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3) and intracellular calcium. Such effects were partially blocked by antibodies to CXCR4 or removal of virus from MDM fluids. Changes in G-protein-coupled signaling correlated, but were not directly linked, to increased neuronal synaptic transmission, Caspase 3 activation and apoptosis. These data, taken together, suggest that CXCR4-mediated signal transduction may be a potential mechanism for neuronal dysfunction during HAD.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Unraveling the mechanisms of neurotoxicity in HIV type 1-associated dementia: inhibition of neuronal synaptic transmission by macrophage secretory products.

The cognitive and motor impairments of HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD) often result from neuronal damage of drop-out. In the infected human host, virus-infected immune-competent mononuclear phagocytes (MPs) (brain macrophages and microglia) are the target cells for HIV-1 and the producers of bioactive molecules that mediate neural damage. Indeed, in laboratory experiments, activated HIV-1-infected macrophages placed into human or rodent brain tissues induce neuronal apoptosis. Nonetheless, the mechanisms for neuronal dysfunction in HAD have yet to be discerned. To these ends, we studied the effects of HIV-1-infected monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) secretions, electrophysiologically, on neuronal synaptic transmission. Bath application of HIV-1-infected MDM culture fluids onto rat hippocampal brain slices resulted in inhibition of evoked field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs). In contrast, fluids from uninfected MDMs showed mild effects on the EPSPs. HIV-1-associated inhibition of EPSPs was enhanced by LPS activation, both for HIV-1-infected and uninfected MDMs. Importantly, paired-pulse facilitation ratio tests showed that factors secreted by HIV-1-infected MDMs acted transiently on presynaptic terminals, providing insights into the site of action and mechanism of the MDM-induced neuronal dysfunction. These results, taken together, demonstrate that factors produced as a consequence of MDM infection and activation affect neuronal synaptic transmission.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Insights into the neurodegenerative process of Alzheimer's disease: a role for mononuclear phagocyte-associated inflammation and neurotoxicity.

Since the first description of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in 1907, significant progress was made into understanding disease pathophysiology. The enormous effort in AD research has translated into the discovery of genetic linkages for disease, into elucidating the structure and function of the etiologic beta-amyloid protein, and into unraveling the seemingly complex neuroimmunological cascade that affects neuronal dysfunction. Although effective therapies do not currently exist, many are being developed. We propose that the neuropathogenesis of AD, in measure, revolves around the immunological activation of glial cells, which in turn leads to alterations in inflammatory neurotoxin production, and ultimately to neuronal injury and death. Elucidating the mechanisms involved in such glial cell immune activation should provide valuable insights into understanding the disease process and in providing effective therapeutics to prevent and/or retard the devastating neurodegeneration that afflicts so many of our elderly.

Alzheimer Disease↗

The cellular immunology of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) resulting in debilitating motor and sensory dysfunction. Its mean age of onset is 30 years and, with the exception of trauma, MS remains the most frequent cause of neurological disabilities for young adults. The disease is highly variable in its onset and progression. It may not be easily diagnosed, at least in its earliest stages. Significant disability is a hallmark of MS. Indeed, up to 50% of patients require walking aids and 10% are wheelchair-bound at 15 years after an initial diagnosis. Clinical features include deficits in sensory (parasthesias and numbness), motor (difficulties with fine movements and gait), balance, bladder, and sexual functions. Although the etiology for MS is not yet known, it is thought to be related to microbial, genetic, and/or environmental factors. Pathologically, MS is characterized by inflammation. An influx of mononuclear cells occurs through a disrupted blood-brain barrier into an immune-privileged central nervous system. The secretion of a variety of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines from glial cells leads to loss of myelin, disruption of oligodendrocyte integrity, and axonal loss. These events, in large measure, affect progressive neural atrophy. How brain inflammatory activities affect transendothelial migration of leukocytes into the brain and alter the process of myelination are the focal points for MS research activities.

Animals↗

Microglial and astrocyte chemokines regulate monocyte migration through the blood-brain barrier in human immunodeficiency virus-1 encephalitis.

The numbers of immune-activated brain mononuclear phagocytes (MPs) affect the progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-associated dementia (HAD). Such MPs originate, in measure, from a pool of circulating monocytes. To address the mechanism(s) for monocyte penetration across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), we performed cross-validating laboratory, animal model, and human brain tissue investigations into HAD pathogenesis. First, an artificial BBB was constructed in which human brain microvascular endothelial and glial cells-astrocytes, microglia, and/or monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM)-were placed on opposite sides of a matrix-coated porous membrane. Second, a SCID mouse model of HIV-1 encephalitis (HIVE) was used to determine in vivo monocyte blood-to-brain migration. Third, immunohistochemical analyses of human HIVE tissue defined the relationships between astrogliosis, activation of microglia, virus infection, monocyte brain infiltration, and beta-chemokine expression. The results, taken together, showed that HIV-1-infected microglia increased monocyte migration through an artificial BBB 2 to 3.5 times more than replicate numbers of MDM. In the HIVE SCID mice, a marked accumulation of murine MDM was found in areas surrounding virus-infected human microglia but not MDM. For human HIVE, microglial activation and virus infection correlated with astrogliosis, monocyte transendothelial migration, and beta-chemokine expression. Pure cultures of virus-infected and activated microglia or astrocytes exposed to microglial conditioned media produced significant quantities of beta-chemokines. We conclude that microglial activation alone and/or through its interactions with astrocytes induces beta-chemokine-mediated monocyte migration in HAD.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Booster immunization of HIV-1 negative volunteers with HGP-30 vaccine induces protection against HIV-1 virus challenge in SCID mice.

Eleven HIV-1 seronegative subjects previously injected with an HIV-1 p17 synthetic peptide vaccine (HGP-30) were given two booster immunizations to evaluate memory cell responses and the ability to boost cellular and humoral immune responses. Five of 11 subjects showed a significant increase in their antibody titres to HGP-30 or p17 and 6/11 had T-cell proliferation responses to either HGP-30 or p17. HIV-1 virus challenge studies in SCID mice demonstrated that 39 of 50 mice (78%) receiving PBMC from 5 of the HGP-30 immunized subjects were protected from infection with a different strain of HIV-1 compared to 4 of 30 mice (13%) that received PBMC from 3 non-immunized subjects (p < 0.001). These studies show that booster immunizations with HGP-30 vaccine are safe and non-toxic and induce protective cell mediated immune responses.

AIDS Vaccines↗

HIV-associated dementia: new insights into disease pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions.

Remarkable progress was made in recent years in the therapeutics of HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD) and in unraveling the complex pathophysiology that follows viral invasion of the central nervous system (CNS). Viral replication in and outside of the CNS was significantly reduced in HIV-1 infected subjects by new potent antiretroviral therapies. This has resulted in partial repair of cellular immune function with improvement in, and the prevention of, neurologic deficits associated with progressive HIV-1 disease. In regard to HAD pathophysiology, it is now known that CNS damage induced by HIV-1 infection occurs indirectly. Neuronal loss is mediated through immune activation and viral infection of mononuclear phagocytes (MPs) (brain macrophages and microglia). Cellular and viral factors secreted by brain MPs produce, over time, neuronal damage and drop out. Viral growth in the brain appears necessary, but not sufficient, to produce cognitive and motor impairments in affected individuals. Indeed, the best predictor for neurologic impairment following HIV-1 infection is the absolute number of immune-competent macrophages; not the level of viral production in affected brain tissue. As yet, an understanding of macrophage-related neurodegeneration has not translated into significant improvements in the treatment of this devastating complication of HIV disease. Nonetheless, adjunctive antiinflammatory and neuroprotective therapies are being developed. New ideas regarding HAD neuropathogenesis, and implications for the diagnosis and treatment of HAD are summarized in this article.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

The neuropathogenesis of HIV-1 infection.

HIV encephalitis is the common pathologic correlate of HIV-dementia (HAD). HIV-infected brain mononuclear phagocytes (MP) (macrophages and microglia) are reservoirs for persistent viral infection. When activated, MP contribute to neuronal damage. Such activated and virus-infected macrophages secrete cellular and viral factors, triggering neural destructive immune responses. Our Center's laboratories have begun to decipher the molecular and biochemical pathways for MP-mediated neuronal damage in HAD. This review will discuss the salient clinical and pathological features of HAD and highlight the recent advances made, by our scientists and elsewhere, in unraveling disease mechanisms, including the role of chemokines and their receptors in the neuropathogenesis of HIV-1 encephalitis.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Lymphotropic virions affect chemokine receptor-mediated neural signaling and apoptosis: implications for human immunodeficiency virus type 1-associated dementia.

Chemokine receptors pivotal for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in lymphocytes and macrophages (CCR3, CCR5, and CXCR4) are expressed on neural cells (microglia, astrocytes, and/or neurons). It is these cells which are damaged during progressive HIV-1 infection of the central nervous system. We theorize that viral coreceptors could effect neural cell damage during HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD) without simultaneously affecting viral replication. To these ends, we studied the ability of diverse viral strains to affect intracellular signaling and apoptosis of neurons, astrocytes, and monocyte-derived macrophages. Inhibition of cyclic AMP, activation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, and apoptosis were induced by diverse HIV-1 strains, principally in neurons. Virions from T-cell-tropic (T-tropic) strains (MN, IIIB, and Lai) produced the most significant alterations in signaling of neurons and astrocytes. The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein, gp120, induced markedly less neural damage than purified virions. Macrophage-tropic (M-tropic) strains (ADA, JR-FL, Bal, MS-CSF, and DJV) produced the least neural damage, while 89.6, a dual-tropic HIV-1 strain, elicited intermediate neural cell damage. All T-tropic strain-mediated neuronal impairments were blocked by the CXCR4 antibody, 12G5. In contrast, the M-tropic strains were only partially blocked by 12G5. CXCR4-mediated neuronal apoptosis was confirmed in pure populations of rat cerebellar granule neurons and was blocked by HA1004, an inhibitor of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, protein kinase A, and protein kinase C. Taken together, these results suggest that progeny HIV-1 virions can influence neuronal signal transduction and apoptosis. This process occurs, in part, through CXCR4 and is independent of CD4 binding. T-tropic viruses that traffic in and out of the brain during progressive HIV-1 disease may play an important role in HAD neuropathogenesis.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Soluble HIV-1 infected macrophage secretory products mediate blockade of long-term potentiation: a mechanism for cognitive dysfunction in HIV-1-associated dementia.

It is generally accepted that viral and cellular products from immune competent mononuclear phagocytes (MP) (brain macrophages and microglia) underlie the neuropathogenesis of HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD). What remains unanswered, however, is the composition of and mechanisms for such MP-induced neurological dysfunctions. In attempts to address these issues culture fluids from HIV-1ADA-infected monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) (depleted or enriched with progeny virus) were placed onto the CA1 area of rat hippocampal brain slices (the site of mammalian learning and memory) and neuronal long-term potentiation (LTP) assayed. LTP was induced by high frequency stimulation (HFS). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) served as a surrogate macrophage activator. Synaptic strength was assayed by the initial slope of evoked field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs). Synaptic potentiation following HFS was observed in slices incubated with uninfected (control) MDM culture fluids. The magnitude of the LTP response was 150.2 +/- 21.10% compared to basal levels (n=6). Synaptic strength was enhanced in virus-infected (135.7+/-28.9%, n=8) and LPS-activated MDM (123.3+/-5.1%, n=7) but at lower levels than controls. The lowest levels of LTP were in brain slices incubated with virus-infected and LPS-activated MDM fluids at (109.5+/-9.9% n=12). Interestingly, bath application of progeny HIV-1 virions showed minimal LTP effects. Virus-infected, LPS-activated MDM fluids, with progenyvirus, reduced synaptic strength but were not statistically different than replicate culture fluids depleted of virus. In contrast, IL-1beta and quinolinic acid, significantly diminished synaptic strength. These results, taken together, suggest that soluble HIV-1-infected MDM secretory products, but not virus per se, significantly affect LTP. This electrophysiological system, which monitors neuronal function following cell exposure to HIV-1 infected materials could provide a novel testing ground for therapeutics designed to protect brain function in HAD.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

SCID mice with HIV encephalitis develop behavioral abnormalities.

Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice inoculated intracerebrally (i.c.) with HIV-infected human monocytes develop brain pathology similar to that in humans with HIV encephalitis. This includes HIV-positive macrophages and multinucleated giant cells, astrogliosis, microglial nodules, and neuronal dropout. These xenografts survive about 1 month. To develop a model of chronic HIV encephalitis and to assay the resulting behavioral abnormalities, we reinoculated SCID mice i.c. every 4 weeks for 3 months with either HIV-infected human monocytes (n = 5) or uninfected human macrophages (n = 4) or administered no inoculation (n = 6); these three groups were monitored for behavioral abnormalities. Tests of cognitive function in a Morris water maze 3.5 months after the first inoculation suggested that HIV-infected mice performed poorly compared with controls. Following testing in the water maze on days 4 and 5 of acquisition, motor activity of infected mice was reduced in comparison with that of controls. Retention of goal location when tested 1 week later was impaired in HIV-infected mice compared with controls. Histopathologic analysis of brains revealed significant astrogliosis and strongly suggested higher numbers of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-positive multinucleated macrophages in HIV-infected compared with control mice. Thus, our preliminary studies indicate that SCID mice with HIV encephalitis develop behavioral abnormalities reminiscent of human disease. These behavioral abnormalities are associated with significantly increased astrogliosis, the presence of HIV, and probably multinucleated giant cells. These studies further support the use of this SCID animal model system for studies of the pathogenesis of HIV encephalitis and for drug interventions.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Suppression of inflammatory neurotoxins by highly active antiretroviral therapy in human immunodeficiency virus-associated dementia.

A human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV)-seropositive, antiretroviral-naive patient presented with significant cognitive dysfunction. Neuropsychologic, neuroradiologic, immunologic, and virologic studies confirmed HIV-associated dementia (HAD). After 12 weeks of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with ibuprofen, dramatic improvements were demonstrated in neurologic function and were sustained for > 1 year. HIV-1 RNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) decreased from 10(5) to 10(4) copies/mL after 4 weeks. After 20 weeks of therapy, plasma viremia decreased from 10(6) copies/mL to undetectable (< 96 copies/mL). Assays of neurotoxins (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, quinolinic acid, and nitric oxide) in plasma and CSF were considerably elevated at presentation and significantly decreased after therapy. Baseline plasma and CSF demonstrated neurotoxic activities in vitro, which also reduced markedly. These data, taken together, support the notion that HAD is a reversible metabolic encephalopathy fueled by viral replication. HAART used with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents leads to the suppression of inflammatory neurotoxins and can markedly improve neurologic function in HAD.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗