Melissa Churchill1, Avindra Nath. 1. Centre for Virology, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia. churchil@burnet.edu.au
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the literature on infection and evolution of HIV within the brain in the context for understanding the nature of the brain reservoir and its consequences. RECENT FINDINGS: HIV-1 in the brain can evolve in separate compartments within macrophage/microglia and astrocytes. The virus adapts to the brain environment to infect these cells and brain-specific mutations can be found in nearly all genes of the virus. The virus evolves to become more neurovirulent. SUMMARY: The brain is an ideal reservoir for the HIV. The brain is a relatively immune privileged site and the blood-brain barrier prevents easy access to antiretroviral drugs. Further, the virus infects resident macrophages and astrocytes which are long-lived cells and causes minimal cytopathology in these cells. Hence as we move towards developing strategies for eradication of the virus from the peripheral reservoirs, it is critical that we pay close attention to the virus in the brain and develop strategies for maintaining it in a latent state failure of which could result in dire consequences.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the literature on infection and evolution of HIV within the brain in the context for understanding the nature of the brain reservoir and its consequences. RECENT FINDINGS:HIV-1 in the brain can evolve in separate compartments within macrophage/microglia and astrocytes. The virus adapts to the brain environment to infect these cells and brain-specific mutations can be found in nearly all genes of the virus. The virus evolves to become more neurovirulent. SUMMARY: The brain is an ideal reservoir for the HIV. The brain is a relatively immune privileged site and the blood-brain barrier prevents easy access to antiretroviral drugs. Further, the virus infects resident macrophages and astrocytes which are long-lived cells and causes minimal cytopathology in these cells. Hence as we move towards developing strategies for eradication of the virus from the peripheral reservoirs, it is critical that we pay close attention to the virus in the brain and develop strategies for maintaining it in a latent state failure of which could result in dire consequences.
Authors: S L Wesselingh; C Power; J D Glass; W R Tyor; J C McArthur; J M Farber; J W Griffin; D E Griffin Journal: Ann Neurol Date: 1993-06 Impact factor: 10.422
Authors: Sarah B Joseph; Kathryn T Arrildt; Adrienne E Swanstrom; Gretja Schnell; Benhur Lee; James A Hoxie; Ronald Swanstrom Journal: J Virol Date: 2013-12-04 Impact factor: 5.103
Authors: Melissa J Churchill; Daniel J Cowley; Steve L Wesselingh; Paul R Gorry; Lachlan R Gray Journal: J Neurovirol Date: 2014-07-25 Impact factor: 2.643
Authors: Thao Do; Gavin Murphy; Lesley A Earl; Gregory Q Del Prete; Giovanna Grandinetti; Guan-Han Li; Jacob D Estes; Prashant Rao; Charles M Trubey; James Thomas; Jeffrey Spector; Donald Bliss; Avindra Nath; Jeffrey D Lifson; Sriram Subramaniam Journal: J Virol Date: 2014-06-25 Impact factor: 5.103
Authors: Maria M Bednar; Christa Buckheit Sturdevant; Lauren A Tompkins; Kathryn Twigg Arrildt; Elena Dukhovlinova; Laura P Kincer; Ronald Swanstrom Journal: Curr HIV/AIDS Rep Date: 2015-06 Impact factor: 5.071
Authors: Nicole Phillips; Taryn Amos; Caroline Kuo; Jacqueline Hoare; Jonathan Ipser; Kevin G F Thomas; Dan J Stein Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2016-10-11 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Susanna L Lamers; Rebecca Rose; Ekaterina Maidji; Melissa Agsalda-Garcia; David J Nolan; Gary B Fogel; Marco Salemi; Debra L Garcia; Paige Bracci; William Yong; Deborah Commins; Jonathan Said; Negar Khanlou; Charles H Hinkin; Miguel Valdes Sueiras; Glenn Mathisen; Suzanne Donovan; Bruce Shiramizu; Cheryl A Stoddart; Michael S McGrath; Elyse J Singer Journal: J Virol Date: 2016-09-29 Impact factor: 5.103