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Humanized NOD/SCID/IL2rγnull (hu-NSG) Mouse Model for HIV Replication and Latency Studies
Published on: January 7, 2019
Distribution of brain HIV load in AIDS
C A Wiley1, V Soontornniyomkij, L Radhakrishnan
1Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA 15213, USA. wiley@np.awing.upmc.edu
Brain Pathology (Zurich, Switzerland)
|April 18, 1998
Summary
High HIV viral load in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may indicate significant brain viral presence, potentially contributing to HIV-associated dementia complex (ADC). Brain viral load varies by region, necessitating localized assessment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- HIV-associated dementia complex (ADC) affects approximately 25% of AIDS patients, causing severe cognitive deficits.
- The role of viral load in mediating neurological disease in HIV infection remains debated.
- Advancements in quantitative RNA assays allow for precise measurement of HIV viral load.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify HIV RNA levels in brain tissue from HIV-infected individuals.
- To investigate the correlation between viral load in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain tissue.
- To determine the regional distribution of HIV RNA within the brain.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative HIV RNA assays were used to measure viral load in brain tissue from 10 autopsied HIV-infected subjects and 2 controls.
- HIV RNA levels in CSF and spleen were also assessed.
- Immunocytochemical assessments of HIV envelope protein were used for comparison.
Main Results:
- Quantitative HIV RNA assays showed agreement with previous semi-quantitative methods.
- High CSF viral loads (exceeding 10^6 copies/mL) correlated with high overall brain viral loads.
- HIV RNA was not uniformly distributed in the brain, with higher concentrations in the basal ganglia and hippocampus compared to cerebellar cortex and mid-frontal gray matter.
- Spleen viral load did not correlate with brain viral load.
Conclusions:
- CSF viral load may serve as a surrogate marker for high brain viral load.
- Accurate assessment of overall brain viral load requires regional quantitation.
- Understanding regional viral distribution is crucial for comprehending HIV-associated neurological damage.
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