The combination of methamphetamine and of the HIV protein, Tat, induces death of the human neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected methamphetamine (METH) abusers show greater neuropathological abnormalities than HIV-negative METH abusers or HIV-positive non-METH users. Herein, we investigated the effects of METH and of the HIV protein, Tat, using the human neuroblastoma cell line, SHY5Y. METH and Tat alone caused no toxic effects. In contrast, the combination of METH and Tat caused significant increases in the percentage of dead cells observed after 48 h of exposure. These results suggest the possibility of using this model to elucidate cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the potentiation of clinical effects observed in patient populations of HIV-positive METH-abusing patients.