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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
Screening Assay for Oxidative Stress in a Feline Astrocyte Cell Line, G355-5
Published on: July 13, 2011
HIV-1 Nef increases astrocyte sensitivity towards exogenous hydrogen peroxide
Sabine Masanetz1, Michael H Lehmann
1Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich/Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81675 Munich, Germany.
Background:
HIV-1 infected individuals are under chronic exposure to reactive oxygen species (ROS) considered to be instrumental in the progression of AIDS and the development of HIV-1 associated dementia (HAD). Astrocytes support neuronal function and protect them against cytotoxic substances including ROS. The protein HIV-1 Nef, a progression factor in AIDS pathology is abundantly expressed in astrocytes in patients with HAD, and thus may influence its functions.
Results:
Endogenous expressed HIV-1 Nef leads to increased sensitivity of human astrocytes towards exogenous hydrogen peroxide but not towards TNF-alpha. Cell death of nef-expressing astrocytes exposed to 10 μM hydrogen peroxide for 30 min occurred within 4 h.
Conclusion:
HIV-1 Nef may contribute to neuronal dysfunction and the development of HAD by causing death of astrocytes through decreasing their tolerance for hydrogen peroxide.
