BETA-ENDORPHIN ENHANCES THE REPLICATION OF NEUROTROPIC HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS IN FETAL PERIVASCULAR MICROGLIA

The effect of an endogenous opiate, beta-endorphin, on the replication of HIV was investigated in brain perivascular microglia. Beta-endorph in enhanced the synthesis of p-24 antigen and transactivation of HIV p romoter. Dialysed culture supernatants of endorphin-treated microglia re-activated latent HIV infection. These culture supernatants showed e levated levels of interleukin-1 beta, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor a lpha. Sub-optimal concentration of beta-endorphin potentiated GP-120-i nduced synthesis of these cytokines. Nalaxone reversed beta-endorphin- induced, but not GP-120-induced, cytokine production and enhanced HIV replication. These results suggest that endogenous opiates may contrib ute to the progression of AIDS dementia complex.