Cytomegalovirus in the brain: in vitro infection of human brain-derived cells

Article Abstract:

In general, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections are asymptomatic, and the brain is usually not involved. However, in cases where HCMV infection accompanies another infection such as HIV, the central nervous system can be affected. The developing fetus is particularly sensitive to HCMV, and if acquired congenitally HCMV can cause mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and seizures. To gain a better understanding of how HCMV enters the brain and alters brain function, the ability of brain cells, grown in culture, to support HCMV growth and replication was determined. Endothelial cells from blood vessels of healthy brains were found to support the growth and replication of HCMV. Glial cells (cells that provide support for neurons) of the astrocytoma type were susceptible to HCMV infection, while glioblastoma glial cells were not. These findings indicate that the HCMV virus may enter the brain by infecting the endothelial cells located in the blood vessels in the brain. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Development and progression, Cytomegalovirus infections, Cytomegaloviruses, Cytomegalovirus

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Toxicity of sulfonamide-reactive metabolites in HIV-infected, HTLV-infected, and noninfected cells

Article Abstract:

The toxicity of sulfonamide drugs in HIV patients may occur because they have low levels of glutathione. Glutathione is a naturally-occurring chemical that protects cells from free-radical damage. Researchers added a metabolite of sulfonamide that produces free radicals to blood cells from healthy volunteers, HIV-infected patients and HTLV-infected patients. They used a dye to determine how many cells were damaged by the metabolite. HIV-infected blood cells were damaged by the metabolite, but HTLV-infected cells and uninfected cells were not. Glutathione concentrations were also lower in the HIV-infected cells, compared to the other cells. Adding glutathione to the HIV-infected cells reduced the toxicity of the sulfonamide metabolite. Sulfonamide drugs are widely used to treat the opportunistic infections that many HIV patients develop.

Health aspects, Physiological aspects, HIV infection, HIV infections, Sulfonamides

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HIV-1 infection of human brain-derived microvascular endothelial cells in vitro

Article Abstract:

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS appears to infect the cells that make up the blood-brain barrier but does not reproduce in these cells. HIV can be detected in the brain, spinal cord and cerebrospinal fluid of HIV-infected patients and central nervous system infection may play a role in AIDS dementia complex. Researchers infected a cell culture of endothelial cells from the human blood-brain barrier (BBB) with five strains of HIV. Even after infection the BBB cells appeared normal and all tests for viral reproduction were negative. However, when the infected BBB cells were cultured with T cells, they transmitted the virus to the T cells. The polymerase chain reaction also detected viral DNA in the BBB cells. Other factors may also be responsible for AIDS dementia complex.

Infection, HIV (Viruses), HIV, Endothelium, Virus replication, Blood-brain barrier

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