New tools for the investigations of Neuro-AIDS at a molecular level: The potential role of data-mining

Abstract

Cognitive impairment represents the most significant and devastating neurological complication associated with HIV infection. Despite recent advances in our knowledge of the clinical features, pathogenesis, and molecular aspects of HIV-related dementia, current diagnostic strategies are associated with significant limitations. It has been suggested that the use of some biomarkers may assist researchers and clinicians in predicting the onset of the disease process and in evaluating the effects of new therapies. However, the large number of chemicals and metabolic pathways involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration, warrants the development of novel approaches to integrate this huge amount of data. The contribution of theoretical disciplines, such as bioinformatics and data-mining, may be useful for testing new hypotheses in diagnosis and patient-centered treatment interventions.

HIV Tat acts on endogenous retroviruses of the W family and this occurs via Toll-like receptor 4

“…Multiple pathogenic mechanisms participate to HIVrelated neurodegeneration [1][2][3][14][15][16]; HIV replication accounts for a minor part of neurodegeneration, as brain HIV replicates mainly in perivascular macrophages and microglia, while it is generally restricted in astrocytes [11]. We observed abortive HIV infection of astrocytes, but sufficient to activate MSRV and Syncytin-1 (Fig.…”

“…The pathogenic mechanisms of HIV-related neurodegeneration are not fully elucidated and include both host and viral mechanisms [14][15][16]. The neurotoxic effects of HIV are direct and indirect, mostly mediated by its gp120 and Tat proteins, through induction of apoptosis, microRNA dysregulation, alterations of mytocondria and of intracellular-signalling pathways, as reviewed in [17].…”