Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encephalitis (HIVE), the most severe neurological complication associated with HIV-1 infection, leads to the onset of HIV-1–associated dementia (HAD). Several HIV-1 viral proteins have been implicated in HIVE-associated neurodegeneration. HIV-1 viral protein R (Vpr), a virion associated gene product known to induce apoptosis in nonproliferating cells, including neurons, is thought to contribute to the neuropathogenesis associated with HIVE. Though current research suggests that Vpr plays a significant role in neuropathogenesis, the presence of Vpr in the brain tissue of HIVE patients has not been assessed. Using a panel of HIVE patient brain tissue, the authors have shown that Vpr is present in detectable amounts in both the basal ganglia and frontal cortex of all HIVE brain tissue samples tested. Double immunofluorescence indicated that Vpr was found in the macrophages and neurons, but not in the astrocytes, of HIVE patients. These results for the first time show the presence of Vpr in vivo and further support the role of Vpr in neuropathogenesis. Journal of NeuroVirology (2006) 12, 200–210.
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The authors thank Dr. John Kappes, University of Alabama, for his generous gift of Vpr antibody; NNTC and its investigators for providing the HIVE tissue specimens; Dr. Ronald Hamilton, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, for providing seronegative control specimens; and Tzvete Dentchev, University of Pennsylvania, for all her help with the staining protocols. The authors thank Elizabeth A. Schafer, University of Pittsburgh, for all her assistance in this project. Use of the Nikon E600 microscope and Metaview software package was kindly provided by Dr. Todd Reinhart, University of Pittsburgh. This work was supported in part by grant from NIH AI50463 to VA.