Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026

14:28
Peptide-based Identification of Functional Motifs and their Binding Partners
Published on: June 30, 2013
HIV-1 infection and AIDS: consequences for the central nervous system
1Center for Neuroscience and Aging Research, The Burnham Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Cell Death and Differentiation
|April 16, 2005
Summary
Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection causes severe brain damage through neuroimmune and degenerative pathways. This review explores these mechanisms and potential therapeutic interventions for HIV-1 neurological complications.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Virology
Background:
- Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection leads to significant neurological issues, including cognitive, motor, and behavioral impairments.
- HIV-1 targets immune cells like macrophages, initiating a brain-wide neuropathological cascade.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on the neuroimmune and degenerative mechanisms underlying HIV-1-induced neuronal damage.
- To discuss potential therapeutic strategies for mitigating neurological complications associated with HIV-1.
Main Methods:
- This review synthesizes current research on HIV-1 neuropathogenesis.
- It examines the roles of chemokine receptors, inflammatory mediators, and excitotoxicity in neuronal dysfunction.
Main Results:
- HIV-1 triggers complex neuroinflammatory and degenerative processes affecting all brain cell types.
- Key pathways include chemokine receptor activation, inflammatory mediator release, and glutamate excitotoxicity.
Conclusions:
- Understanding these pathological mechanisms is crucial for developing effective treatments.
- Future therapeutic interventions should target these specific pathways to prevent or reverse HIV-1-associated neurological damage.
Related Concept Videos
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...
Immunodeficiency Diseases
Immunodeficiency disorders are conditions in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. The immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful invaders. When this system is deficient or not functioning properly, it leaves the body susceptible to infections, diseases, or other complications.
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
Cryptococcal Meningitis
Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly
As part of their replication cycle, certain viruses synthesize long precursor proteins called polyproteins within infected host cells. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), two major polyproteins are produced: Gag and Gag-Pol. The Gag polyprotein supplies the structural components of the virus, while Gag-Pol includes essential viral enzymes such as reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease. After synthesis, these polyproteins move to the host cell membrane, where they assemble into an...

