HIV-1 ENVELOPE GP120 ALTERS ASTROCYTES IN HUMAN BRAIN CULTURES

The majority of AIDS patients will experience some degree of dementia induced by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). In this study, we rep ort that treatment of human brain tissue with envelope gp120 of HIV-1 did not cause neuronal death but did cause astrocyte alterations and/o r death. Human astrocyte cultures showed decreased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), as well as the diminution of a majo r protein of 66 kDa. These findings are similar to the in vitro change s observed when astrocytes are exposed to ammonia and in vivo changes observed in experimental hepatic encephalopathy. We hypothesize that A IDS dementia may partially involve a perturbation of astrocyte functio n by gp120 that could indirectly impair neuronal function.