The pathogenesis of AIDS-dementia complex (AIDS-DC) is poorly understood. Its relationship to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is particularly perplexing. We suggest that if HIV and the damage to brain are directly related, neuropathological changes in AIDS DC should co-localize with HIV regionally and cytologically. We therefore propose to delineate morphometrically the specific components(s) in the central nervous system (CNS) which are damaged in AIDS-DC; and to compare brain maps of damage and of HIV distribution (by in situ nucleic acid probe hybridization (ISH) and immunocytochemistry (ICC)) in a series of postmortem human AIDS brains. Other HIV-related markers will also be mapped: 1) the CD4 surface receptor (ISH and ICC), recently shown to be present in normal brain and 2) the HLA-DR major histocompatibility marker (ICC), recently shown to be inducible in astrocytes (and possibly CNS endothelium) as a component of stimulated antigen processing by these cells. These various phenomena, if colocalized with specific CNS damage or HIV infection, might represent markers which explain HIV-neurotropism and support a direct role for HIV in the injury to specific CNS components in AIDS-DC.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS026598-03
Application #
3412517
Study Section
Pathology A Study Section (PTHA)
Project Start
1988-08-01
Project End
1993-07-31
Budget Start
1990-08-01
Budget End
1991-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Rochester
Department
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
208469486
City
Rochester
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14627