Novel mechanisms of central nervous system damage in HIV infection.

Human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection of the central nervous system is an early event after primary infection, resulting in motor and cognitive defects in a significant number of individuals despite successful antiretroviral therapy. The pathology of the infected brain is characterized by enhanced leukocyte infiltration, microglial activation and nodules, aberrant expression of inflammatory factors, neuronal dysregulation and loss, and blood-brain barrier disruption. Months to years following the primary infection, these central nervous system insults result in a spectrum of motor and cognitive dysfunction, ranging from mild impairment to frank dementia. The mechanisms that mediate impairment are still not fully defined. In this review we discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms that facilitate impairment and new data that implicate intercellular communication systems, gap junctions and tunneling nanotubes, as mediators of human immunodeficiency virus-1 toxicity and infection within the central nervous system. These data suggest potential targets for novel therapeutics.

Introduction

Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) infection has expanded into a global health pandemic since the first cases were described in 1981, having infected an estimated 33 million people worldwide (UNAIDS, 2008). In the early 1990s, the development of antiretroviral therapy changed the face of the disease. In the developed world, HIV went from causing a fatal disease to being a chronic infection because viral loads are frequently undetectable and CD4 counts are restored to near normal levels in most individuals on antiretroviral therapy. However, the viral reservoirs that persist in infected individuals are not eradicated and, because people live longer with HIV, the virus continues to cause damage despite low viral replication. A predominant clinical consequence of HIV that persists despite treatment is its neurological effects, which are collectively referred to as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) and occur in approximately 50% of infected individuals.1 Because HIV infected people on antiretroviral therapy live longer, the prevalence of cognitive and motor dysfunction is increasing.2,3 Thus, the need for effective central nervous system (CNS)-targeted therapeutics is becoming even more important. The mechanisms of HIV infection in the CNS remain incompletely characterized and it is likely that many therapeutic targets have yet to be identified.

Clinical consequences of HIV infection in the CNS

The clinical features of HAND are both subcortical and cortical, and individuals can develop cognitive impairment in a number of different domains. The clinical manifestations are divided into three major groups: asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment, mild neurocognitive disorder, and HIV-associated dementia.4 Asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment is defined by performance at least one standard deviation below the mean in at least two cognitive areas with no impairment in activities of daily living, mild neurocognitive disorder is performance at least one standard deviation below the mean in at least two cognitive areas with mild to moderate impairment in activities of daily living, and HIV-associated dementia is performance at least two standard deviations below the mean in at least two cognitive areas with severe impairment in activities of daily living.4 Before antiretroviral therapy, over 15% of late stage HIV-infected individuals developed HIV-associated dementia and 50% of infected individuals developed some form of HAND.1 Now, the number with HIV-associated dementia has decreased to less than 5%, but the percentage of individuals with mild neurocognitive disorder has remained at 20%, and the percentage with asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment has increased to 25%.1 Thus, 50% of HIV-infected individuals still develop HAND.1

HAND results in a triad of cognitive, behavioral and motor dysfunction and its progression is often not unidirectional. HIV-infected individuals may progress to asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment, then mild neurocognitive disorder, then HIV-associated dementia, but they can also fluctuate between these forms or go into remission. Diagnosis of HAND is based on neuropsychological testing, neuroimaging, and exclusion of delirium or any CNS opportunistic infections or other cause of dementia as the reason for the neurocognitive impairment.4,5 For diagnosis, neuropsychological testing must include the following domains: verbal/language, attention/working memory, abstraction/executive, memory (learning/recall), speed of information processing, sensory-perceptual, and motor skills.4 The standard of neuroimaging is magnetic resonance imaging, which demonstrates cerebral atrophy and ventricular enlargement in impaired individuals, but there is ongoing work to develop better imaging tools for diagnosis of HAND.5–7

HIV neuropathology

Soon after infection, as early as 15 days,8 HIV enters the CNS in the majority of, if not all, infected individuals. Viral entry into the CNS is believed to be mediated through a “Trojan horse” mechanism, whereby HIV-infected monocytes cross the blood–brain barrier and then release virus into the CNS. HIV released from these infected cells then causes infection in the brain that results in significant inflammation and eventually neuronal damage and loss.

HIV primarily infects CNS macrophages and microglia and can infect astrocytes at low levels.9–13 There is little evidence for HIV infection of oligodendrocytes and neurons. However, significant neuronal dysfunction, including axonal and dendritic pruning, is prevalent throughout the CNS.14–18 This results from the inflammatory factors and neurotoxic substances released by infected as well as activated, uninfected cells. HAND pathology is characterized by multinucleated giant cells, microglial nodules, gliosis, myelin pallor, and neuronal loss, demonstrating the significant role of immune cells and subsequent damage to neurons in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Mechanisms of HIV entry into the CNS and infection of CNS cells

As discussed above, the predominant means of HIV entry into the CNS is through a “Trojan horse” mechanism by which infected monocytes cross the blood–brain barrier and release virus within the CNS that can then infect resident cells (Figure 1). Other proposed mechanisms include direct infection of cells that comprise the blood–brain barrier, endothelial cells and astrocytes, and transfer via these cells from the periphery to the CNS,19–21 or direct extracellular movement of the virus across a disrupted blood–brain barrier.22 While it is important to consider these mechanisms, they are less well characterized, and are likely minor contributors to CNS infection.

Figure 1

Mechanisms of HIV-mediated CNS damage. HIV infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, particularly monocytes, leads to enhanced expression of adhesion molecules and chemokine receptors such as CCR2. This results in increased transmigration of infected cells. HIV enters the CNS through a “Trojan horse” mechanism, crossing the blood–brain barrier, formed by endothelial cells and astrocyte end feet, within infected monocytes. Once inside the CNS, infected monocytes can differentiate into macrophages and secrete a number of inflammatory mediators, particularly chemokines such as CCL2 that further enhance transmigration of immune cells across the blood–brain barrier. HIV infection of macrophages increases the numbers of TNT that connect with other macrophages. HIV or HIV proteins may travel within or on TNT, facilitating viral spread. Infected cells also secrete viral proteins such as gp120 and tat that are toxic to neurons. HIV can infect astrocytes at low levels. Infected astrocytes transfer signals to neighboring uninfected astrocytes and neurons. These signals are transferred through gap junctions and result in apoptosis (X) in both astrocytes and neurons. Astrocytes are necessary for the metabolic maintenance of neurons. Thus, the astrocyte loss and dysfunction that occurs with HIV infection also results in metabolic dysregulation and neuronal toxicity.

Abbreviations: CNS, central nervous system; EC, endothelial cells; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; TNT, tunneling nanotubes.

Under physiological conditions, leukocyte transmigration across the blood–brain barrier into the CNS parenchyma is a restricted and highly regulated process that requires cell- and tissue-specific mechanisms of leukocyte-endothelial interactions. These interactions involve a variety of intracellular and extracellular molecules, including chemokines, cytokines and their receptors, cell adhesion molecules, tight junctions, and adherens junction proteins on brain microvascular endothelial cells and leukocytes. Aberrant expression of chemokines and their receptors, adhesion molecules, and matrix metalloproteinases in the context of HIV contribute to the transmigration of leukocytes across the blood–brain barrier, exacerbated CNS inflammation, and HIV replication within the brain (see Figure 1).22

Chemokines are important mediators of transmigration of leukocytes across the blood–brain barrier. Chemokines play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of HAND because they facilitate leukocyte transmigration and direct movement of resident cells, such as microglia/macrophages. Expression of chemokines and their receptors is dysregulated in HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus encephalitic brains in comparison with normal brains, as well as microglia/ macrophages, astrocytes, endothelial cells, and neurons exposed to HIV or soluble viral proteins.23–31 Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) is the most potent chemoattractant chemokine for monocytes and activated T-cells.32–34 CCL2 levels are elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue of individuals with HIV-associated dementia.28 Our group demonstrated that CCL2 plays a major role in inflammation as well as neuroprotection (see below) in the context of HAND. CCL2 is a critical chemokine in the transmigration of HIV-infected monocytes and lymphocytes across the blood–brain barrier.31 We demonstrated that HIV infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) enhanced their transmigration across an in vitro human blood–brain barrier model in response to CCL2.31 HIV-infected PBMCs also had increased expression of chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2), the receptor for CCL2, which may facilitate this enhanced transmigration (see Figure 1).31 The increased transmigration of PBMCs across the blood–brain barrier was associated with blood–brain barrier disruption and was CCL2 specific, given that no increased transmigration of HIV-infected cells was found with CCL3, CCL4, or CCL5.31

In addition to CCR2, previous reports showed enhanced expression of the chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CCR5 on HIV-infected T-cells,35,36 suggesting that HIV infection alters the expression of chemokine receptors to facilitate invasion as well as infection. Another chemokine, fractalkine (CX3CL1), has been associated with enhanced transendothelial migration of CD16+ monocytes under normal and inflammatory conditions and endothelial cells expressing fractalkine trigger CD16+ monocytes to produce CCL2, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9).37,38 The role of fractalkine in transmigration of HIV-infected monocytes has not yet been examined.

In addition to upregulating chemokine receptors and perhaps enhancing the response to chemotactic agents, HIV infection of leukocytes also alters the expression of a number of adhesion molecules that likely facilitate transmigration of HIV-infected cells across the blood–brain barrier. It has been demonstrated in vivo that HIV infection of human monocytes increases expression of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1).39,40 HIV-infected monocytes in contact with endothelial cells induce the expression of E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1).41 An immunohistochemical examination of HIV encephalitic tissue showed increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and VCAM-1 on endothelial cells and astrocytes.42 We found that platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) expression is dysregulated in HIV-infected primary human PBMCs.43 Normally, PECAM-1 is concentrated at sites of cell contact and antibodies blocking the extracellular portion of PECAM-1 selectively reduce diapedesis, but not adhesion or cell activation, of uninfected monocytes.44 Thus, homophilic interactions between PECAM-1 proteins expressed on monocytes and on endothelial cells are critical for diapedesis through interendothelial junctions. We showed that HIV-infected PBMCs shed soluble PECAM-1 (sPECAM-1) in the presence of the chemokine CCL2.43 Using post mortem tissue from individuals with HIV-associated dementia, we found an accumulation of sPECAM-1 within the CNS.43 We also showed that CCL2 increases PECAM-1 on the surface of brain microvascular endothelial cells (unpublished data from Roberts et al). Increased serum levels of sPECAM-1 were detected in individuals with multiple sclerosis and HIV, 43,45 suggesting a role for the soluble form of this adhesion molecule in CNS inflammation. We propose that sPECAM-1 competes for the homotypic PECAM-1 interaction between two endothelial cells, which results in destabilization of these interactions with subsequent blood–brain barrier disruption and enhanced transmigration.

These findings support the hypothesis that HIV enters the brain by the transmigration of HIV-infected monocytes across the blood–brain barrier in response to chemokine gradients. HIV infection enhances the expression of specific chemokine receptors on the surface of infected leukocytes, enabling the detection of lower amounts of these chemokines and resulting in leukocyte activation and transmigration into the brain. HIV also increases the expression of a number of adhesion molecules, which facilitate binding and diapedesis across the blood–brain barrier.

CNS damage by viral and immune factors

While HIV is able to infect CNS macrophages, microglia, and astrocytes, as well as causing neuronal dysfunction and loss, there is little evidence to suggest that the virus infects neurons. Therefore, it is believed that infected cells release factors including viral proteins, particularly gp120 and tat, which are toxic to neurons (Figure 1).

Gp120 is the envelope surface protein of HIV and can bind CXCR4 and CCR5, even in the absence of CD4, on the surface of neurons and trigger neuronal apoptosis.46–48 The majority of brain-derived viruses are R5 (binding to CCR5),49 however, X4 (binding to CXCR4) viruses, which are found in the brain late in the course of disease, or X4 gp120, induce the highest levels of neuronal cell death.50 This may contribute to the more severe forms of HAND that manifest late in disease progression. Specific mutations in the V1 and V3 gp120 loops have been identified in individuals with or without HIV-associated dementia, suggesting adaptation of the virus to the brain through changes in gp120.51–53 Gp120 can be detected in the brain of HIV-infected individuals, colocalizing with microglia/macrophages, microglial nodules, and multinucleated giant cells.54 Post-transcriptional changes in the V3 or V4 regions of gp120 that alter sequence or glycosylation may determine the course of disease as they have been correlated with the incidence of HIV-associated dementia.55,56 Treatment of macrophages or microglia with recombinant gp120 results in the release of many cytokines and chemokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, CCL2, macrophage inflammatory proteins (MIPs), and CCL5, all of which may participate in the neuroinflammation that is also damaging to neurons.57–60

Tat, the transactivator of transcription of HIV, is released from infected cells and can be found in the serum and brain tissue of individuals with HIV encephalitis.61–67 Tat is transcribed and released from cells even when HIV replication is controlled by antiretroviral therapy because HIV integrates into the host genome.63 Tat interacts with a number of cell surface receptors, including integrins, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor, and low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1).68–70 Tat induces release of cytokines and chemokines from microglia, macrophages, neurons, and astrocytes in the CNS and causes disruption of the blood–brain barrier.71–73 In addition to these inflammatory effects, tat causes significant neurotoxicity in a variety of systems.74–83

The mechanisms that result in tat-induced neuronal apoptosis are still under investigation, but it is clear that glutamate receptors, such as the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), participate in the process.72,82–86 Our group demonstrated that tat treatment of mixed cultures of primary human fetal neurons and astrocytes causes apoptosis in both cell types.82,83 This apoptosis is mediated by early formation of a complex involving the NMDAR, LRP-1, post-synaptic density protein of 95 kDa (PSD-95), and neuronal nitric oxide synthase.83 This complex results in activation of the NMDAR and subsequent Ca2+ influx. Increased intracellular Ca2+ activates neuronal nitric oxide synthase and results in nitric oxide production and diffusion.83 Blocking neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity inhibits apoptosis in neurons, and blocking all forms of nitric oxide synthase inhibits apoptosis in neurons and astrocytes, which suggests that nitric oxide is the key mediator of tat-induced apoptosis.83 In addition, we showed that two components of the complex, NMDAR and LRP, are critical to tat-induced apoptosis. Treatment with MK801, a noncompetitive NMDAR antagonist, or with receptor associated protein (RAP), a competitive antagonist of LRP, inhibits tat-induced apoptosis in all neurons and astrocytes.82,83

LRP and its ligands, particularly apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4), are known to be involved in Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting a potential link between the mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease and HAND. Polymorphisms in ApoE4 are associated with poor prognoses in a number of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, hemorrhage, and trauma.87–90 It is possible that tat toxicity and ApoE may have similar or overlapping signaling pathways involving activation of LRP, NMDAR, synaptic scaffold proteins, glutamate, and nitric oxide production. Consistent with this hypothesis, it has been demonstrated that ApoE alleles are important predictors for accelerated dementia in HIV-infected individuals and may help predict their disease course.91,92 Thus, we suggest that LRP may play a significant role in the development of HAND and may be a potential target for therapeutics.

Inflammation is a hallmark of HAND and mediates the CNS damage in neurocognitively impaired HIV-infected individuals; however, some aspects of this inflammation may actually be neuroprotective. Several inflammatory cytokines have been reported to be elevated in the CNS and/or cerebrospinal fluid of individuals with HAND, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor.93–95 These cytokines may be produced by HIV-infected perivascular macrophages, infiltrated leukocytes, resident microglial cells, endothelial cells, and astrocytes.96 TNF-α upregulates HIV replication and also synergizes with IL-6 and IL-2 to cause reactivation of latent virus.97 However, TNF-α also appears to have neuroprotective properties by increasing NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain enhancer of activated B-cells) activity and altering calcium and potassium levels and bcl-2 expression.98 CCL2 can also be neuroprotective. We showed that when mixed cultures of neurons and astrocytes were treated with tat and CCL2 concomitantly, CCL2 inhibits tat-induced apoptosis.82 When we treat with CCL2 two hours after tat, this inhibitory effect is lost, indicating that CCL2 interferes with the early effects of tat. In fact, CCL2 inhibits formation of the complex between NMDAR, LRP-1, PSD-95, and neuronal nitric oxide synthase and inhibits nitric oxide production.83 These data indicate that TNF-α and CCL2 have a dual role within the CNS, suggesting that the actions of these molecules depend on the time frame of their secretion and their microenvironment. Furthermore, due to this dual role, therapies targeting either molecule should be approached cautiously.

Intercellular communication systems amplify CNS damage

Our laboratory was one of the first to examine the role of intercellular communication in the context of HAND. We demonstrated that gap junctions and tunneling nanotubes (TNT) each play a role in neuroinflammation through direct transfer of mediators between the cytoplasm of connected cells.9,99

TNT and gap junctions are the only described communication systems that facilitate exchange of cytoplasmic factors through direct contact between the cytoplasm of connected cells. TNT and gap junctions coordinate important biological processes such as development, metabolism, homeostasis, and the immune response.100–105 The major difference between TNT and gap junctions is the distance between connected cells and the sizes of the molecules transferred. TNT facilitate long-range communication through extended processes, while gap junctions require direct cell-to-cell contact for their formation. Gap junctions and TNT both traffic small molecules, but gap junctions have a size limit of 1.2 kDa, while TNT can also transfer organelles and vesicles.101,105

Gap junctions are channels formed by connexins, a family of proteins with over 21 members in humans.106 Six connexins form a single connexon (hemichannel) and two connexons from apposing cells form a gap junction.105,107 Connexons can be formed by one (homotypic) or several (heterotypic) types of connexins, and gap junctions are formed by two identical (homotypic) or different (heterotypic) connexons. This variation generates connexons and gap junctions that differ in their biophysical properties and permeability.108 The pore that is formed has a large internal diameter, approximately 12 Å, that enables ions and intracellular messengers less than 1.2 kDa to diffuse between connected cells. Molecules that are transferred through these channels include inositol triphosphate (IP3), calcium, cyclic nucleotides, metabolites, toxic substances such as cytochrome c, neurotransmitters, and viral peptides.105,109 Through the diffusion of these second messengers, gap junctions coordinate physiological processes such as development, differentiation, neuronal synchrony, inflammation, survival, apoptosis, metabolism, cell contraction, and signaling.105 In pathologic conditions, it has been proposed that gap junctions participate in cell survival and/or apoptosis and facilitate clearance of pathogens, but the extent of gap junction involvement is not fully characterized.

We demonstrated that gap junctions in astrocytes are critical for the transfer of an apoptotic signal from HIV-infected astrocytes to uninfected astrocytes and neurons.9 Astrocytes are key cells in the CNS that regulate CNS differentiation, neuronal excitation, extracellular metabolites, synaptic plasticity, formation of scar tissue following neuronal loss, immune activation, blood–brain barrier integrity, and glycogen storage.110,111 Our data indicate that, although only a small percentage of cultured primary human fetal astrocytes are infected by HIV, these cells transmit toxic signals through gap junctions to neighboring cells, particularly uninfected astrocytes and neurons, that result in apoptosis (Figure 1).9 We also demonstrated that gap junctions control glutamate metabolism and secretion of CCL2, suggesting a critical role in maintenance of neuronal function and in CNS inflammation. 9 Taken in combination, these results indicate that further investigation of HIV infection of astrocytes and its role in HAND is required despite the low level of productive infection.

We demonstrated a role for gap junctions in the transmigration of PBMCs across the blood–brain barrier.112 PBMCs normally do not express connexins. However, in inflammatory conditions, connexin 43 (Cx43) expression can be induced.112,113 Our data indicate that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or TNF-α and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) treatment induce Cx43 expression in monocytes.112 These cells migrate across an in vitro model of the blood–brain barrier in response to CCL2 and we observed Cx43 staining in monocytes, astrocytes, and endothelial cells that localized to the sites of heterocellular contact.112 Gap junctions were important for the transmigration of treated monocytes because the gap junction blockers octanol and 18-α-glycerrhetinic acid significantly decreased transmigration. 112 Based on our findings, we propose that gap junctions may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HAND by mediating infected astrocyte-induced toxicity as well as transmigration of monocytes across the blood–brain barrier.

TNT form an active communication system that enables neighboring cells to exchange organelles and vesicles, and to coordinate signaling over relatively long distances. In pathologic conditions, these cytoplasmic bridges allow bacteria and viruses to travel between connected cells without being exposed to the immune cell surfaces or extracellular antimicrobial factors.102–104,114–118 TNT formation has been described in immune cells, including B-cells, T-cells, natural killer cells, neutrophils and monocytes, as well as neuronal and glial cells.101 The mechanisms that facilitate TNT formation remain unclear, however a recent study demonstrated that a mammalian protein, M-Sec, induces formation of membrane protrusions that attach to neighboring cells and result in formation of TNT-like structures.119 Our laboratory demonstrated that primary human macrophages infected with HIV have greater numbers of TNT, suggesting that HIV induces the expression or stability of these processes.99 Furthermore, the HIV capsid protein p24 colocalizes with TNT, suggesting that viral spread may occur through this mechanism (Figure 1).99 Recently, it was demonstrated that HIV evades IgG2 and IgA responses by transferring the viral immunosuppressive protein Nef from infected macrophages to B-cells via TNT, decreasing B-cell response to IgG2 and IgA inducing signals from CD4+ T-cells.120

We propose that intercellular communication mediated by gap junctions and TNT enhances cellular dysfunction and toxicity, inflammation, and HIV infection. An understanding of their role in HAND may indicate useful therapeutic targets to limit the neuropathogenesis of HIV.

Potential therapeutics

The development of successful antiretroviral therapy has significantly reduced the percentage of HIV-infected individuals who develop HIV-associated dementia; however, the percentage of individuals who are neurocognitively impaired has remained unchanged. This is due, in large part, to the fact that many of the antiretrovirals in use do not have adequate CNS penetration. Thus, although the systemic infection is well controlled, CNS infection persists. In addition to promoting an emphasis on CNS-penetrating antiretroviral therapy, a number of ongoing studies are working to develop successful adjunctive therapies to combat HAND. Some have examined ways to improve drug delivery to the CNS, including the use of nanoparticles121,122 and intranasal delivery of medications.123 Other studies have largely targeted the immune response or neuronal damage.

Oxidizing agents are a well demonstrated component of neurotoxicity and inflammation in HIV-associated CNS disease and a number of studies focused on using antioxidant agents to reduce neuronal damage and loss. One therapy that has been tested in clinical trials is selegiline, which inhibits monoamine oxidase B, resulting in decreased free radicals, increased superoxide dismutase and catalase, and increasing the synthesis of neurotrophic factors.124–128 A selegiline transdermal system was developed and has been tested in a number of Phase II clinical trials. While two trials found improvement in psychomotor speed,129,130 two more recent trials did not find any difference in cognitive or functional outcome and no effect on brain metabolites or levels of markers of oxidative stress, suggesting that the selegiline transdermal system may not be clinically useful for the treatment of HAND.131,132 Another potential antioxidant therapy is a gene therapy system to deliver superoxide dismutase or glutathione peroxidase to neurons, which has been shown to decrease gp120-induced neuronal apoptosis in culture and in the caudate putamen and substantia nigra of mice.133–135 When both superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were delivered together, this also decreased tat-induced neuronal apoptosis.136

Inflammation is one of the hallmarks of HAND, and therapies to target this inflammation could potentially ameliorate the CNS consequences of HIV. Minocycline is a tetracycline derivative that has been in use since the 1960s for the treatment of bacterial infections. Minocycline can also be used for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, and recent studies showed that it can cross the blood–brain barrier and be neuroprotective.137–139 There are a number of ongoing clinical trials testing the efficacy of minocycline in the treatment of neurological diseases. In the context of HAND, minocycline was demonstrated to reduce the incidence and severity of encephalitis in simian immuno-deficiency virus-infected macaques and a Phase II clinical trial is underway at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the US, as well as a clinical trial in Uganda to determine whether it reduces cognitive deficits in HIV-infected individuals.140,141

Our group and others demonstrated the importance of the NMDAR in HIV-induced neurotoxicity. Memantine, a non-competitive NMDAR antagonist, is in use in Europe for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease and has recently been approved in the US for Alzheimer’s disease treatment.142–147 Memantine prevents gp120, tat, and platelet-activating factor neurotoxicity in cell culture and is neuroprotective in mouse models of HAND.148–151 A recent Phase II clinical trial of memantine in cognitively impaired HIV-infected adults found no significant improvement in cognitive dysfunction over a period of 16 weeks, but individuals treated with memantine did have an improvement in brain metabolism, as measured by N-acetyl aspartate to creatinine ratio using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.152 This study suggested that memantine may be an effective treatment for HAND, and that longer term trials are necessary to determine its efficacy.

While there are some promising therapies currently in trial targeting some of the mechanisms of HIV-mediated CNS damage discussed in this review, there is still no definitive treatment for the neurocognitive dysfunction that occurs in up to 50% of infected individuals. It is important to continue investigation of new avenues for potential therapies.

Our recent work with gap junctions and TNT suggests a role for intercellular communication in the neuropathogenesis of HIV and may provide novel targets for therapeutics. We propose that TNT may provide an alternate route for HIV spread in addition to the well characterized receptor-mediated entry. This pathway may not be affected by extracellular antiretroviral therapy and may contribute to the persistence of viral reservoirs. Thus, an understanding of the mechanisms that participate in the formation of TNT and transport of virus or viral proteins through TNT may lead to identification of therapeutic targets to block intracellular viral spread.

We also demonstrated that gap junctions facilitate transfer of an apoptotic signal from astrocytes to neighboring cells, which likely contributes to the cellular dysfunction and cell death in the CNS of HIV infected individuals. Gap junctions play vital roles in electrical and metabolic coordination within the CNS. Thus, it is unlikely that blocking gap junction channels would be a useful therapeutic approach. However, this work demonstrates the importance of the small population of infected astrocytes in the development of HAND. Thus, by understanding the mechanisms of this infection, we can begin to determine how to target this component of viral CNS infection therapeutically to eradicate this significant viral reservoir.