The effects of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) on the central nervous system (CNS) are particularly important, leading to neurological deterioration in the form of impaired cognitive abilities and motor dysfunction. Despite pharmacological control of the infection, neurocognitive disorders associated with HIV (HAND) remain intractable. Previous studies have shown that HIV infection of astrocytes leads to the production of HIV-1 Nef protein. We propose to evaluate the efficacy of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) to modulate the integrity of dendritic synapse effects after treatment of HIV-Nef protein in glial cells <i>in vitro</i>. LIF is a cytokine known to be released from hematopoietic cells and progenitor neuronal cells (NPC) exhibiting neuroprotective effects. LIF secretion is expected to induce neuroprotection of neural damage mediated by the HIV-Nef protein and that it has restored synaptic effects. There will be four experimental phases: Extraction and culture of astrocytes, treatment of LIF in cell culture, functional assessment of the integrity of the dendritic synapse induced by LIF by Western Blot to determine the changes in Hexaribonucleotide Binding Protein-3 (NeuN) demonstrating young neurons, Synaptophysin (Syp), microtubule-associated Protein 2 (MAP2) (responsible for neuroprotection) and histological evaluation of the effects of LIF. Together, these studies may demonstrate the ability of LIF to provide neuroprotective effects in the context of HAND.

Effect of LIF on the integrity of the dendritic synapsis in neuronal cells after HIV-Nef protein treatment <i>in vitro</i>

2019 Spring National Meeting

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Effect of LIF on the integrity of the dendritic synapsis in neuronal cells after HIV-Nef protein treatment in vitro