In situ analysis of neuronal injury and neuroinflammation during HIV-1 infection

This study investigates the impact of different HIV-1 strains on the central nervous system (CNS) using humanized mice. The goal was to understand how these strains induce neuronal and neuroinflammatory changes in specific brain regions, including the frontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum, cerebellum, and spinal cord. The research demonstrates that both viral strains, HIV-1JR-CSF and HIV-1CH040, cause neuronal injury and astrogliosis across all CNS regions shortly after infection. However, each strain has distinct effects, with HIV-1JR-CSF causing more significant neuronal damage in certain brain areas and HIV-1CH040 leading to more prominent neuroinflammation. These findings highlight that different HIV strains can lead to different types of CNS pathologies. This suggests that the specific strain of HIV infecting an individual can influence the severity and type of neurological damage that occurs.

• 1
  HIV-infected human cells were found in the brains of HIV-infected BLT mice, confirming HIV neuroinvasion.
• 2
  Both HIV-1JR-CSF and HIV-1CH040 induced neuronal injury and astrogliosis across all CNS regions following HIV infection at both 2- and 8-week time points.
• 3
  HIV-1JR-CSF had more significant effects on neuronal health, particularly in the frontal cortex, leading to a decrease in NeuN+ neurons.