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A potential role for interferon-alpha in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated dementia.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rho, MB; Wesselingh, S; Glass, JD; McArthur, JC; Choi, S; Griffin, J; Tyor, WR
Published in: Brain Behav Immun
December 1995

Previous studies in patients receiving interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have demonstrated that elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of IFN-alpha are associated with cognitive dysfunction. We measured IFN-alpha levels in CSF and blood by ELISA in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients with (n = 21) and without (n = 23) dementia and HIV-negative controls (n = 48). IFN-alpha was significantly elevated in the CSF of HIV-positive patients with dementia compared to those without dementia and controls. An increasing amount of IFN-alpha in the CSF was correlated with the clinical parameter of increasing Memorial Sloan Kettering scores; although these correlations were not statistically significant, they further suggest an association of increased CSF IFN-alpha with neurocognitive dysfunction in AIDS. Immunocytochemical staining of brains demonstrated IFN-alpha-positive macrophages and astrocytes in frontal cortex and white matter and IFN-alpha mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, further indicating that IFN-alpha is made by cells within the brain and suggesting that the significant increases of IFN-alpha protein found in the CSF of patients with HIV-associated dementia complex are derived from intrinsic brain cells such as macrophages and astrocytes. Increased local production of IFN-alpha during HIV infection may contribute directly or indirectly to the pathogenesis of HIV-associated dementia.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Brain Behav Immun

DOI

ISSN

0889-1591

Publication Date

December 1995

Volume

9

Issue

4

Start / End Page

366 / 377

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Severity of Illness Index
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Nervous System Diseases
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Macrophages
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Humans
  • HIV Infections
 

Citation

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Rho, M. B., Wesselingh, S., Glass, J. D., McArthur, J. C., Choi, S., Griffin, J., & Tyor, W. R. (1995). A potential role for interferon-alpha in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated dementia. Brain Behav Immun, 9(4), 366–377. https://doi.org/10.1006/brbi.1995.1034
Rho, M. B., S. Wesselingh, J. D. Glass, J. C. McArthur, S. Choi, J. Griffin, and W. R. Tyor. “A potential role for interferon-alpha in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated dementia.Brain Behav Immun 9, no. 4 (December 1995): 366–77. https://doi.org/10.1006/brbi.1995.1034.
Rho MB, Wesselingh S, Glass JD, McArthur JC, Choi S, Griffin J, et al. A potential role for interferon-alpha in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated dementia. Brain Behav Immun. 1995 Dec;9(4):366–77.
Rho, M. B., et al. “A potential role for interferon-alpha in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated dementia.Brain Behav Immun, vol. 9, no. 4, Dec. 1995, pp. 366–77. Pubmed, doi:10.1006/brbi.1995.1034.
Rho MB, Wesselingh S, Glass JD, McArthur JC, Choi S, Griffin J, Tyor WR. A potential role for interferon-alpha in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated dementia. Brain Behav Immun. 1995 Dec;9(4):366–377.
Journal cover image

Published In

Brain Behav Immun

DOI

ISSN

0889-1591

Publication Date

December 1995

Volume

9

Issue

4

Start / End Page

366 / 377

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Severity of Illness Index
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Nervous System Diseases
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Macrophages
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Humans
  • HIV Infections