Review
Molecular mechanisms of neuroinvasion by monocytes-macrophages in HIV-1 infection
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* Corresponding author: Gabriel Gras gabriel.gras@cea.fr
1 Institute of Emerging Diseases and Innovative Therapies, Division of Immuno-Virology, CEA, 18 Route du Panorama, F92265 Fontenay-aux Roses, France
2 Infectious & Inflammatory Disease Center, Burnham Institute for Medical Research, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
Retrovirology 2010, 7:30 doi:10.1186/1742-4690-7-30
Published: 7 April 2010Abstract
HIV associated neurocognitive disorders and their histopathological correlates largely depend on the continuous seeding of the central nervous system with immune activated leukocytes, mainly monocytes/macrophages from the periphery. The blood-brain-barrier plays a critical role in this never stopping neuroinvasion, although it appears unaltered until the late stage of HIV encephalitis. HIV flux that moves toward the brain thus relies on hijacking and exacerbating the physiological mechanisms that govern blood brain barrier crossing rather than barrier disruption. This review will summarize the recent data describing neuroinvasion by HIV with a focus on the molecular mechanisms involved.