Lisi L, Tramutola A, De Luca A, Navarra P, Dello Russo C. Modulatory effects of the CCR5 antagonist maraviroc on microglial pro-inflammatory activation elicited by gp120.
J Neurochem 2011;
120:106-14. [PMID:
22017448 DOI:
10.1111/j.1471-4159.2011.07549.x]
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Abstract
Despite important clinical benefits of the highly active antiretroviral therapy, neurological disorders affect approximately 50% of AIDS patients. In the brain, infected microglia release pro-inflammatory mediators as well as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) proteins, like the envelope protein gp120, that sustain inflammation and mediate neuronal damage. Gp120 allows the virus entry in the host cells via binding to the CD4 receptor together with a specific co-receptor (CCR5/CXCR4). The antiretroviral drug maraviroc is a CCR5 receptor antagonist, approved for the treatment of HIV-experienced patients. By interfering with a chemokine receptor, highly expressed in microglia, maraviroc has the potential to modulate their activation during HIV-1 infection. To test this hypothesis, primary cultures of rat cortical microglia were activated by gp120. Gp120(CN54) , a protein derived by macrophage (M)-tropic viruses, showed strong pro-inflammatory action, thus it was used to test the effects of maraviroc. The latter displayed opposite effects, depending on whether or not interferon-γ (IFNγ) was also present in the system. IFNγ significantly enhanced gp120 proinflammatory activity, possibly via up-regulation of CCR5 receptor expression. In this experimental paradigm, maraviroc significantly increased microglial activation, thus suggesting that its chronic use can exacerbate neuronal pathology, especially in HIV-experienced patients with higher cerebral IFNγ levels.
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