Chemokine and chemokine-receptor expression in human glial elements - Induction by the HIV protein, Tat, and chemokine autoregulation

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encephalitis is a prominent pathology se en in children infected with HIV. Immunohistochemical analyses of pediatric brain tissue showed distinct differences in expression of C-C chemokines a nd their receptors between children with HN encephalitis and those with non -CNS-related pathologies. Evidence suggests that soluble factors such as HI V Tat released from HN-infected cells may have pathogenic effects. Our resu lts show Tat effects on chemokines and their receptors in microglia and ast rocytes as well as chemokine autoregulation in these cells. These results p rovide evidence for the complex interplay of Tat, chemokines, and chemokine receptors in the inflammatory processes of HIV encephalitis and illustrate an important new role for chemokines as autocrine regulators.