Dr. Igor Grant Comments on the Fascinating Research Findings of Fellow AIDS Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine – Is it the Astrocytes?

Findings reported in the manuscript Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection of Human Astrocytes Disrupts Blood-brain Barrier Integrity by a Gap Junction-dependent Mechanism published in the June 29^th Issue of the Journal of Neuroscience indicate that astrocytes may lead the way to understanding neurocognitive impairment in HIV infection.  Dr. Grant stated, “This study provides a possible explanation indicating that minute numbers of infected astrocytes can trigger a cascade of signals that could open the brain to various toxic influences."  Eliseo Eugenin, primary author of the study, constructed a blood-brain barrier model using human cells and found that infection of astrocytes may be important in promoting neurocognitive impairment that so commonly travels with HIV infection, possibly by weakening the blood-brain barrier allowing infection of brain cells.

For the article in HealthDay News click here.

For redirect to the abstract of the published manuscript and Journal Information click here.