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Updated: Mar 9, 2026
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Investigating Long-term Synaptic Plasticity in Interlamellar Hippocampus CA1 by Electrophysiological Field Recording
Published on: August 11, 2019
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CCR5 is a suppressor for cortical plasticity and hippocampal learning and memory
Miou Zhou1, Stuart Greenhill2,3, Shan Huang1
1Departments of Neurobiology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory and Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States.
Elife
|December 21, 2016
Summary
CCR5 significantly impacts brain functions. Reducing CCR5 enhances memory and brain plasticity, while its overactivity impairs these functions, potentially explaining cognitive issues in HIV.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
Background:
- The role of CCR5 in immunity and HIV infection is well-established.
- Its function in neuronal plasticity, learning, and memory remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of CCR5 in neuroplasticity, learning, and memory.
- To explore CCR5's potential contribution to HIV-associated cognitive deficits.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the effects of altering CCR5 function on MAPK/CREB signaling, long-term potentiation (LTP), and hippocampus-dependent memory in mice.
- Examined the impact of CCR5 manipulation in the mouse barrel cortex on synaptic plasticity.
- Utilized HIV V3 peptide to model CCR5 over-activation and assessed its effects on cognitive functions, with and without CCR5 inhibition.
Main Results:
- Decreasing CCR5 function enhanced MAPK/CREB signaling, LTP, and hippocampus-dependent memory in mice.
- Neuronal CCR5 overexpression led to memory deficits.
- Reduced CCR5 function in the barrel cortex improved spike timing-dependent plasticity and experience-dependent plasticity.
- HIV V3 peptide induced LTP, signaling, and memory deficits, which were ameliorated by CCR5 knockout or knockdown.
Conclusions:
- CCR5 acts as a significant suppressor of neuroplasticity and memory.
- CCR5 over-activation by viral proteins may contribute to cognitive impairments observed in HIV.
- CCR5 is a key player in regulating learning, memory, and neuroplasticity.
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