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Cannabinoid receptor expression in HIV encephalitis and HIV-associated neuropathologic comorbidities
M A Cosenza-Nashat1, A Bauman, M-L Zhao
1Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx Department of Pathology, Mt Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology
|April 1, 2011
Summary
Cannabinoid receptor expression, particularly CB1 and CB2, is altered in the brain during HIV encephalitis. These receptors are found in glial cells, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for neurological complications in HIV patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cannabinoids show promise for neurodegenerative disorders and HIV-related neurological issues.
- Cannabinoid receptor (CB1, CB2) expression is known in some neurological conditions, but not in the central nervous system of HIV+ individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and localization of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) in the central nervous system of HIV-infected individuals, particularly those with HIV encephalitis (HIVE).
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was performed on cerebral cortex and white matter samples from HIVE, HIV-associated comorbidities, and control brains using anti-CB1 and anti-CB2 antibodies.
- Quantitative image analysis, double immunofluorescence, and immunoblots were used to analyze receptor expression and cellular localization.
Main Results:
- CB1 receptor expression was elevated in HIVE brains and those with comorbidities.
- CB2 receptor expression was significantly increased in the white matter of HIVE brains.
- CB1 and CB2 receptors were found in various glial cells (microglia, astrocytes) and macrophages within the HIVE central nervous system.
Conclusions:
- Cannabinoid receptor expression is present in glia within HIVE brains.
- These findings suggest potential therapeutic applications for cannabinoid-based treatments in HIV-infected patients with neurological sequelae.
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