Phenotypic changes in the brain of SIV-infected macaques exposed to methamphetamine parallel macrophage activation patterns induced by the common gamma-chain cytokine system

Nikki Bortell, Brenda Morsey, Liana Basova, Howard S. Fox, Maria Cecilia Garibaldi Marcondes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

One factor in the development of neuroAIDS is the increase in the migration of pro-inflammatory CD8 T cells across the blood-brain barrier. Typically these cells are involved with keeping the viral load down. However, the persistence of above average numbers of CD8 T cells in the brain, not necessarily specific to viral peptides, is facilitated by the upregulation of IL15 from astrocytes, in the absence of IL2, in the brain environment. Both IL15 and IL2 are common gamma chain (γc) cytokines. Here, using the non-human primate model of neuroAIDS, we have demonstrated that exposure to methamphetamine, a powerful illicit drug that has been associated with HIV exposure and neuroAIDS severity, can cause an increase in molecules of the γc system. Among these molecules, IL15, which is upregulated in astrocytes by methamphetamine, and that induces the proliferation of T cells, may also be involved in driving an inflammatory phenotype in innate immune cells of the brain. Therefore, methamphetamine and IL15 may be critical in the development and aggravation of central nervous system immune-mediated inflammatory pathology in HIV-infected drug abusers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number00900
JournalFrontiers in Microbiology
Volume6
Issue numberSEP
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015

Keywords

  • Gamma-chain cytokines
  • HIV infections
  • IL15
  • Macrophages
  • Methamphetamine
  • Microglia
  • NeuroAIDS
  • SIV

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Microbiology (medical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Phenotypic changes in the brain of SIV-infected macaques exposed to methamphetamine parallel macrophage activation patterns induced by the common gamma-chain cytokine system'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this