HIV-1 Antigens in Neurons of Cocaine-Abusing Patients.

TitleHIV-1 Antigens in Neurons of Cocaine-Abusing Patients.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsFiala, M, Singer, EJ, Commins, D, Mirzaoiazova, T, Verin, A, Espinosa, A, Ugen, K, Bernas, M, Witte, M, Weinand, M, Lossinsky, AS
JournalJournal of Neurovirology
Volume2
Start Page24
Pagination24-31
Date Published03/2008
Type of ArticleJournal
Other NumbersPMCID: PMC2678818
KeywordsBlood-Brain Barrier, Cocaine, External, Extracellular signal-regulated kinase, HIV-1, HIV-1-associated dementia., intercellular junctions
Abstract

Cocaine opens the blood-brain barrier by deregulating transcription of target genes. Here we show that cocaine at blood concentrations in drug abusers disrupts endothelial cell junctions in parallel with signaling by phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase and myosin light chain. Cocaine effects may be important in vivo since the neurons of drug abusing patients with HIV-1 associated dementia displayed gp120, p24 and Nef.

URLhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2678818/