Increased frequency of alpha-synuclein in the substantia nigra in human immunodeficiency virus infection
Title | Increased frequency of alpha-synuclein in the substantia nigra in human immunodeficiency virus infection |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2009 |
Authors | Khanlou, N, Moore, D, Chana, G, Cherner, M, Lazzaretto, D, Dawes, S, Grant, I, Masliah, E, Everall, I |
Journal | Journal of Neurovirology |
Volume | 15 |
Pagination | 131-138 |
Date Published | 2009 |
Keywords | Age Factors, Aged, alpha-Synuclein, Amyloid beta-Protein, Biological Markers, Female, HIV, HIV Infections, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Internal, Male, Middle Aged, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Substantia Nigra, Up-Regulation |
Abstract | The frequency of neurodegenerative markers among long surviving human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals is unknown, therefore, the present study investigated the frequency of alpha-synuclein, beta-amyloid, and HIV-associated brain pathology in the brains of older HIV-infected individuals. We examined the substantia nigra of 73 clinically well-characterized HIV-infected individuals aged 50 to 76 years from the National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium. We also examined the frontal and temporal cortical regions of a subset of 36 individuals. Neuritic alpha-synuclein expression was found in 16% (12/73) of the substantia nigra of the HIV+cases and none of the older control cases (0/18). beta-Amyloid deposits were prevalent and found in nearly all of the HIV+cases (35/36). Despite these increases of degenerative pathology, HIV-associated brain pathology was present in only 10% of cases. Among older HIV+adults, HIV-associated brain pathology does not appear elevated; however, the frequency of both alpha-synuclein and beta-amyloid is higher than that found in older healthy persons. The increased prevalence of alpha-synuclein and beta-amyloid in the brains of older HIV-infected individuals may predict an increased risk of developing neurodegenerative disease. |
URL | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19115126 |