Shaona Acharjee1, William G Branton2, Pornpun Vivithanaporn3, Ferdinand Maingat2, Amber M Paul2, Peter Dickie4, Glen B Baker5, Christopher Power6. 1. Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Bangkok, Thailand. 2. Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 3. Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; Department of Pharmacology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. 4. Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 5. Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 6. Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Electronic address: chris.power@ualberta.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neuropsychiatric disorders during HIV/AIDS are common although the contribution of HIV-1 infection within the brain, and in particular individual HIV-1 proteins, to the development of these brain disorders is unknown. Herein, an in vivo transgenic mouse model was generated in which the HIV-1 Nef protein was expressed in microglia cells, permitting investigation of neurobehavioral phenotypes and associated cellular and molecular properties. METHODS: Transgenic (Tg) mice that expressed full length HIV-1 nef under the control of the c-fms promoter and wildtype (Wt) littermates were investigated using different measures of neurobehavioral performance including locomotory, forced swim (FST), elevated plus maze (EPM) and T-maze tests. Host gene and transgene expression were assessed by RT-PCR, immunoblotting, enzymatic activity and immunohistochemistry. Biogenic amine levels were measured by HPLC with electrochemical detection. RESULTS: Tg animals exhibited Nef expression in brain microglia and cultured macrophages. Tg males displayed hyperactive behaviors including augmented locomotor activity, decreased immobility in the FST and increased open-arm EPM exploration compared to Wt littermates (p<0.05). Tg animals showed increased CCL2 expression with concurrent IFN-α suppression in striatum compared with Wt littermates (p<0.05). Dopamine levels, MAO activity and the dopamine transporter (DAT) expression were reduced in the striatum of Tg animals (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HIV-1 Nef expression in microglia induced CCL2 expression together with disrupting striatal dopaminergic transmission, resulting in hyperactive behaviors which are observed in mania and other psychiatric comorbidities among HIV-infected persons. These findings emphasize the selective effects of individual viral proteins in the brain and their participation in neuropathogenesis.
BACKGROUND:Neuropsychiatric disorders during HIV/AIDS are common although the contribution of HIV-1 infection within the brain, and in particular individual HIV-1 proteins, to the development of these brain disorders is unknown. Herein, an in vivo transgenic mouse model was generated in which the HIV-1Nef protein was expressed in microglia cells, permitting investigation of neurobehavioral phenotypes and associated cellular and molecular properties. METHODS: Transgenic (Tg) mice that expressed full length HIV-1nef under the control of the c-fms promoter and wildtype (Wt) littermates were investigated using different measures of neurobehavioral performance including locomotory, forced swim (FST), elevated plus maze (EPM) and T-maze tests. Host gene and transgene expression were assessed by RT-PCR, immunoblotting, enzymatic activity and immunohistochemistry. Biogenic amine levels were measured by HPLC with electrochemical detection. RESULTS: Tg animals exhibited Nef expression in brain microglia and cultured macrophages. Tg males displayed hyperactive behaviors including augmented locomotor activity, decreased immobility in the FST and increased open-arm EPM exploration compared to Wt littermates (p<0.05). Tg animals showed increased CCL2 expression with concurrent IFN-α suppression in striatum compared with Wt littermates (p<0.05). Dopamine levels, MAO activity and the dopamine transporter (DAT) expression were reduced in the striatum of Tg animals (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:HIV-1Nef expression in microglia induced CCL2 expression together with disrupting striatal dopaminergic transmission, resulting in hyperactive behaviors which are observed in mania and other psychiatric comorbidities among HIV-infectedpersons. These findings emphasize the selective effects of individual viral proteins in the brain and their participation in neuropathogenesis.
Authors: Sarah Tymchuk; Daniela Gomez; Noshin Koenig; M John Gill; Esther Fujiwara; Christopher Power Journal: Can J Psychiatry Date: 2017-12-11 Impact factor: 4.356
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Authors: Susmita Sil; Annadurai Thangaraj; Ernest T Chivero; Fang Niu; Muthukumar Kannan; Ke Liao; Peter S Silverstein; Palsamy Periyasamy; Shilpa Buch Journal: Neurosci Lett Date: 2021-03-29 Impact factor: 3.197