Bagetta et al. reply

Cell death mechanisms in HIV-associated dementia: the involvement of syncytia

“…15 gp 120 causes neuronal dysfunction and death in vivo in rodents. 16,17 The viral proteins can interact with several receptors on neurons; presumably, the viral proteins interact with chemokine receptors since the interruption of chemokine receptor signalling can prevent HIV-induced neuronal apoptosis. 18 In vitro experiments demonstrated that the ability of the virus to induce neuronal apoptosis is independent from the replication capacity.…”