DECREASED EXPRESSION OF AMPA RECEPTOR MESSENGER-RNA AND PROTEIN IN AIDS - A MODEL FOR HIV-ASSOCIATED NEUROTOXICITY

HIV infection can cause extensive neuronal loss and clinically a sever e dementia. The cause of the neurotoxicity remains unclear as neurons are not infected, but disturbance of glutamate-linked calcium entry ha s been implicated. In this study, we have shown a decrease in HIV-infe cted brain of the expression of mRNA and protein of the GluR-A flop su btype of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AM PA) glutamate receptor in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Although Purkinje cells are relatively resistant to loss, the observed disturbance of A MPA receptors may contribute to the neurotoxic process in other vulner able brain regions and clinically to the development of dementia.