Abstract
Reactive astrogliosis is a prominent pathological feature of HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD). We hypothesized that in HAD, astrocytes activated with proinflammatory stimuli such as IL-1β express Fas ligand (FasL), a death protein. IL-1β and HIV-1-activated astrocytes expressed FasL mRNA and protein. Luciferase reporter constructs showed that IL-1β and HIV-1 upregulated FasL promoter activity (p<0.001). The NF-κB pathway was involved as shown by inhibition with SN50 and dominant negative IκBα mutants. Brain extracts from HAD patients had significantly elevated FasL levels compared to HIV-seropositive (p<0.001) and seronegative individuals (p<0.01). We propose that astrocyte expression of FasL may participate in neuronal injury in HAD.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 141-149 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Neuroimmunology |
Volume | 141 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2003 |
Keywords
- Astrocyte
- Fas ligand
- HIV-1-associated dementia
- IL-1β
- Immune activation
- Neurotoxicity