Neurologic abnormalities are common in AIDS. While it is clear that CNS infection with HIV may manifest as a subcortical encephalitis, unfortunately, not all patients with AIDS dementia complex reveal this histopathology. This has led to a search for alternative explanations for dementia. In particular, recent emphasis has been placed upon the possible role of neuronal damage in the genesis of AIDS dementia complex. This neuropathologic investigation will examine the extent and nature of grey matter abnormalities in the brains of patients dying with AIDS, and will correlate these with clinical neurologic features. Specifically, this project will utilize autopsy brains from AIDS patients that are histopathologically sorted into 3 groups: HIV encephalitis, aseptic leptomeningitis, and no infectious abnormalities, as well as brains from HIV-negative controls to determine: 1. if HIV infection results in decreased neuronal counts or neuronal atrophy; 2. if there is a pattern of selective vulnerability in neurons undergoing pathologic changes; 3. if abnormal glial responses occur in grey matter and can be correlated with neuronal changes; 4. if CNS glucose transporters show any decrement with HIV infection; and 5. if any detected neuronal abnormalities can be correlated with clinical data, specifically the presence of AIDS dementia complex. The methods entailed in this study are computer-assisted morphometric analysis in concert with histochemistry and immunohistochemistry; immuno-blotting; and polymerase chain reaction.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29NS031865-03
Application #
2269814
Study Section
AIDS and Related Research Study Section 7 (ARRG)
Project Start
1993-03-01
Project End
1998-02-28
Budget Start
1995-03-01
Budget End
1996-02-29
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10029
Morgello, S; Tagliati, M; Ewart, M R (1997) HHV-8 and AIDS-related CNS lymphoma. Neurology 48:1333-5
Kovitz, C A; Morgello, S (1997) Cerebral glucose transporter expression in HIV infection. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 94:140-5
Guterman, K S; Hair, L S; Morgello, S (1996) Epstein-Barr virus and AIDS-related primary central nervous system lymphoma. Viral detection by immunohistochemistry, RNA in situ hybridization, and polymerase chain reaction. Clin Neuropathol 15:79-86
Morgello, S; Wolfe, D; Godfrey, E et al. (1995) Mitochondrial abnormalities in human immunodeficiency virus-associated myopathy. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 90:366-74
Morgello, S; Uson, R R; Schwartz, E J et al. (1995) The human blood-brain barrier glucose transporter (GLUT1) is a glucose transporter of gray matter astrocytes. Glia 14:43-54
Morgello, S; Simpson, D M (1994) Multifocal cytomegalovirus demyelinative polyneuropathy associated with AIDS. Muscle Nerve 17:176-82