The SIV-infected rhesus monkey model for HIV-associated dementia and implications for neurological diseases

The neuropathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated deme ntia has remained elusive, despite identification of HIV as the causal agen t, Although a number of contributing factors have been identified, the seri es of events that culminate in motor and cognitive impairments after HIV in fection of the central nervous system (CNS) are still not known. Rhesus mon keys infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) manifest immunosuppr ession and CNS disease that is pathologically [L. R. Sharer et al, (1991) J , Med, Primatol. 20, 211-217] and behaviorally [E, A. Murray et al, (1992) Science 255, 1246-1249] similar to humans. The SIV model of HIV-associated dementia (HAD) is widely recognized as a highly relevant model in,which to investigate neuropathogenesis. With better understanding of neuropathogenes is comes the opportunity to interrupt progression and to design better trea tments for HAD. This becomes increasingly important as patients live longer yet still harbor HIV-infected cells in the CNS. The use of the SIV model h as allowed the identification of neurochemical markers of neuropathogenesis Important not only for HAD, but also for other inflammatory neurological d iseases.