Tips from the American Journal of...(cognitive disease that leads to motor dy...),Health

Date:8/26/2009

cognitive disease that leads to motor dysfunction, speech problems, and behavioral changes. It is caused by HIV-infected white blood cells (macrophages) in the central nervous system, which cause inflammation that leads to neural damage. The use of illicit drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine increase the symptoms of HANDs.

To examine the mechanisms underlying drug abuse-mediated enhancement of HANDs, Gaskill et al examined the effects of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is induced by abused drugs, on HIV infection in macrophages. Macrophages expressed dopamine receptors 1 and 2 and were activated upon dopamine signaling. Signaling through dopamine receptor 2 increased the total number of HIV-infected macrophages, resulting in an increase in HIV replication. Therefore, drug abuse could exacerbate HANDs through a common increase in neural dopamine levels.

Dr. Berman and colleagues conclude that "macrophages, and particularly macrophage [dopamine] receptors, may provide targets for intervention that might slow the development of neurological disease in HIV positive individuals using [dopamine]-enhancing substances. Overall, these findings provide new avenues of investigation of macrophage functions as well as potential therapeutic targets to delay or prevent the acceleration of HAND and other HIV-related pathologies enhanced by drug abuse."

Gaskill PJ, Calderon TM, Luers AJ, Eugenin EA, Javitch JA, Berman JW: HIV infection of human macrophages is increased by dopamine: a bridge between HIV-associated neurologic disorders and drug abuse. Am J Pathol 2009, 175: 1148-1159

Signaling Molecule Key in Atrial Fibrillation

Dr. Julie McMullen and colleagues at Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne Australian have discovered that PI3K (p110α) plays a role in atrial fibrillation. These results are presented in the September 2009 issue of the American Journal of Pathology.

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Contact: Angela Colmone acolmone@asip.org 301-634-7953 American Journal of Pathology Source:Eurekalert

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