Neuropathology of human immunodeficiency virus infection at different disease stages

mTOR as a multifunctional therapeutic target in HIV infection

“…Neurocognitive impairment can also affect adherence to treatment and, ultimately, result in increased morbidity [33,34]. HIV-related neuropathology consists of microglial infiltration throughout white and grey matter, reactive astrogliosis in the cortex and in the central grey structures, and loss of neurons in the hippocampus and in the basal ganglia [35]. HIV enters the CNS through infected macrophages and resides in the microglia.…”

Characterization of Cell Death Pathways in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Encephalitis

“…These infiltrates are also found in the white matter and in deep gray structures, especially the basal ganglia and thalamus, as well as in the brain stem. [3][4][5] The pathogenetic mechanism(s) at the basis of HIVinduced neuronal injury is not fully elucidated. 1,6,7 HIV enters the central nervous system (CNS) early in the course of infection through infected macrophages and resides both in macrophages and microglia.…”

Monocytes and their Role in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Pathogenesis

“…It has been shown that individuals seropositive for HIV may contain little or no DNA, despite early entry of HIV into the brain (Donaldson et al, 1994). Even if DNA is evident, there is no expression of HIV structural proteins (Kibayashi et al, 1996). Thus, the reseeding of the CNS by activated monocytes leading to productive CNS infection remains the only plausible mechanism of viral entry into the brain, which, in most cases, does not occur until an advanced stage of HIV disease (Kim et al, 2003).…”