Methamphetamine potentiates HIV-1 gp120-mediated autophagy via Beclin-1 and Atg5/7 as a pro-survival response in astrocytes.

ABSTRACT: Methamphetamine (METH), a commonly used controlled substance, is known to exacerbate neuropathological dysfunction in HIV-infected individuals. The neuropathological manifestation results from cell death or dysfunction in the central nervous system (CNS) wherein autophagy is expected to have an important role. Autophagy is generally considered protective during deprivation/stress. However, excessive autophagy can be destructive, leading to autophagic cell death. This study was designed to investigate if METH and HIV-1 gp120 interact to induce autophagy in SVGA astrocytes, and whether autophagy is epiphenomenal or it has a role in METH- and gp120-induced cytotoxicity. We found that METH and gp120 IIIb caused an increase in LC3II level in astrocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and

SUBMITTER: Cao L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5133984 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature