Proceedings from the NIMH symposium on “NeuroAIDS in Africa: neurological and neuropsychiatric complications of HIV”

Shilpa Buch, Ernest T. Chivero, Jackie Hoare, Jibreel Jumare, Noeline Nakasujja, Victor Mudenda, Robert Paul, Georgette D. Kanmogne, Ned Sacktor, Charles Wood, Walter Royal, Jeymohan Joseph

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Despite major advances in HIV-1 treatment, the prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remains a problem, particularly as individuals on suppressive treatment continue to live longer. To facilitate discussion on emerging and future directions in HAND research, a meeting was held in Durban, South Africa in March 2015 as part of the Society of Neuroscientists of Africa (SONA) conference. The objective of the meeting was to assess the impact of HIV subtype diversity on HAND and immunological dysfunction. The meeting brought together international leaders in the area of neurological complications of HIV-1 infection with special focus on the African population. Research presentations indicated that HAND was highly prevalent and that inflammatory cytokines and immune-activation played important roles in progression of neurocognitive impairment. Furthermore, children on antiretroviral therapy were also at risk for developing neurocognitive impairment. With respect to the effect of HIV-1 subtype diversity, analyses of HIV-1 clade C infection among South Africans revealed that clade C infection induced cognitive impairment that was independent of the substitution in HIV-1 Trans-Activator of Transcription (Tat; C31S). At the cellular level, a Zambian study showed that clade C infection resulted in reduced brain cell death compared with clade B infection suggesting clade specific variations in mediating brain cell injury. Furthermore, ex vivo Tat protein from clade CRF02_AG, prevalent in West/ Central Africa, exhibited reduced disruption of brain endothelium compared with clade B Tat protein. Discussions shed light on future research directions aimed at understanding biomarkers and disease mechanisms critical for HAND.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)699-702
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of neurovirology
Volume22
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2016

Keywords

  • HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND)
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  • NeuroAIDS

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Virology

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