Dynamics of monocyte chemoattractant protein type one (MCP-1) and HIV viral load in human cerebrospinal fluid and plasma

BACKGROUND: Increased expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein type 1 (MCP-1) is associated with HIV CNS disease. This study evaluated the temporal relationships between MCP-1 expression and HIV replication in the CNS. METHODS: MCP-1 and HIV viral load (VL) were measured in serially obtained samples of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in subjects either interrupting (TI) or starting (TS) antiretroviral therapy. RESULTS: Following TI, plasma VL rebounded first, followed by increases in CSF MCP-1, which immediately preceded or coincided with a rebound of CSF VL. CONCLUSION: The close temporal relationship of the increase of MCP-1 and CSF VL suggests that they are co-regulated, or that one is a stimulus for the other.