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Host Protein Protective Against HIV-Associated Inflammation

by Bidita Debnath on Sep 15 2014 12:02 AM

 Host Protein Protective Against HIV-Associated Inflammation
Combination antiretroviral therapy has dramatically increased the life expectancy for patients infected with HIV.
However, the prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, which may be triggered by inflammation in the central nervous system, has substantially risen. A new study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation suggests that a host protein, heme oxygenase-1, is protective against HIV-associated inflammation and cognitive decline.

Dennis Kolson and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania determined that heme oxygenase-1 levels are low in brains of HIV infected patients. In HIV infected individuals, heme oxygenase-1 deficiency correlated with cognitive decline and viral load in the brain. In a cell culture model, inhibition of heme oxygenase-1 increased viral load and promoted neurotoxicity.

Increasing expression of heme oxygenase-1 in the same model decreased both viral burden and neurotoxic effects. The results of this study suggest that strategies that increase heme oxygenase-1 may protect patients from HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.

Source-Eurekalert


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