Blockade of beta adrenergic receptors protects the blood brain barrier and reduces systemic pathology caused by HIV-1 Nef protein.

ABSTRACT: Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) targets viral replication, but early viral protein production by astrocytes may still occur and contribute to the progression of HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders and secondary complications seen in patients receiving cART. In prior work with our model, astrocytic HIV-1 Nef expression exhibits neurotoxic effects leading to neurological damage, learning impairment, and immune upregulation that induces inflammation in the lungs and small intestine (SI). In this follow-up study, we focus on the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) as the important branch for peripheral inflammation resulting from astrocytic Nef expression. Male and female Sprague Dawley rats were infused with transfected astrocytes to produce Nef. The rats were divided in four gro

SUBMITTER: Rivera-Ortiz J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8594844 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature