Findings in humans and animal models suggest that alcohol, similar to HIV-1, induces inflammatory processes in the brain leading to neurodegeneration. The causes of HIV-1-associated neurotoxicity are comparable to those mediating alcohol-induced neuronal injury. Diminution of neuroinflammation constitutes a logical approach for prevention of HIV-1 and alcohol mediated neurodegeneration. Agonists of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) possess potent anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. We propose that CB2 activation will attenuate neuronal dysfunction and blood brain barrier (BBB) injury caused by alcohol and HIV-1 via effects on monocytes, brain endothelium, activated microglia and HIV-1 infected macrophages. Relevance of this idea is confirmed by our findings of augmented CB2 expression on brain endothelium in alcoholics, patients HIV-1 encephalitis and up-regulated CB2 expression in primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVEC) by alcohol and cytokines. CB2 agonists protected the barrier against inflammatory and alcohol insults, blocked monocyte migration across BBB and decreased expression of pro-inflammatory factors in activated BMVEC. CB2 agonist decreased leukocyte adhesion to brain endothelium and prevented enhanced BBB permeability in mice with systemic inflammation. Based on these observations, we propose to investigate the therapeutic potential of CB2 activation in diminution of neuroinflammation caused by the combined effects of alcohol and HlV-1. The following questions will be addressed: 1) How do CB2 agonists reverse the effects of alcohol and virus infection on BBB integrity and diminish migration of HIV-1-infected monocytes across the BBB, 2) Can CB2 stimulation ameliorate alcohol and HIV-1-infected macrophage-mediated neurotoxicity, and 3) Can CB2 agonists diminish neuroinflammation, neuronal injury,and BBB dysfunction in an animal model of HIVE and alcohol abuse. The significance of the proposed work is to uncover novel mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory potential of CB2 activation that will ameliorate BBB impairment and neuronal dysfunction in the setting of HIV-1 CNS infection and alcohol abuse.

Public Health Relevance

Studies indicated that alcohol dependence has an additive effect on cognitive deficits associated with HIV-1 infection. Current proposal aims to understand the combined effects of HIV-1 and alcohol in the brain and to propose neuroprotective therapies (namely, activation of cannabinoid type 2 receptors).

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
5R37AA015913-14
Application #
9268665
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (NSS)
Program Officer
Wang, Joe
Project Start
2015-05-01
Project End
2020-04-30
Budget Start
2017-05-01
Budget End
2018-04-30
Support Year
14
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Temple University
Department
Type
DUNS #
057123192
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19122
Hill, Jeremy D; Zuluaga-Ramirez, Viviana; Gajghate, Sachin et al. (2018) Activation of GPR55 increases neural stem cell proliferation and promotes early adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Br J Pharmacol :
Rom, Slava; Zuluaga-Ramirez, Viviana; Gajghate, Sachin et al. (2018) Hyperglycemia-Driven Neuroinflammation Compromises BBB Leading to Memory Loss in Both Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Type 1 and Type 2 Mouse Models. Mol Neurobiol :
Rom, Slava; Zuluaga-Ramirez, Viviana; Reichenbach, Nancy L et al. (2018) Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside is a blood-brain barrier protective and anti-inflammatory agent: implications for neuroinflammation. J Neuroinflammation 15:25
Seliga, Alecia; Lee, Michael Hweemoon; Fernandes, Nicole C et al. (2018) Kallikrein-Kinin System Suppresses Type I Interferon Responses: A Novel Pathway of Interferon Regulation. Front Immunol 9:156
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Persidsky, Yuri; Hill, Jeremy; Zhang, Ming et al. (2016) Dysfunction of brain pericytes in chronic neuroinflammation. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 36:794-807
Rom, Slava; Zuluaga-Ramirez, Viviana; Reichenbach, Nancy L et al. (2016) PARP inhibition in leukocytes diminishes inflammation via effects on integrins/cytoskeleton and protects the blood-brain barrier. J Neuroinflammation 13:254
Persidsky, Yuri (2015) Insights into end-organ injury in HIV infection: dynamics of monocyte trafficking to the brain in SIV encephalitis. Am J Pathol 185:1548-51
Watters, Andrea K; Rom, Slava; Hill, Jeremy D et al. (2015) Identification and dynamic regulation of tight junction protein expression in human neural stem cells. Stem Cells Dev 24:1377-89
Rom, Slava; Dykstra, Holly; Zuluaga-Ramirez, Viviana et al. (2015) miR-98 and let-7g* protect the blood-brain barrier under neuroinflammatory conditions. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 35:1957-65

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