Successful zidovudine (AZT) treatment in a case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-associated dementia complex

Psychopharmacology in HIV-infected patients

Neuropsychiatric disorders and syndromes may be underdiagnosed and inadequately treated in individuals infected with HIV. Depression in particular is among the most prevalent diagnoses, and data from controlled clinical studies have shown that antidepressant medications are efficacious and safe for treating depression in HIV-infected persons. A significant shortcoming of this literature is that most of the available data are from studies conducted before the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy. In addition, apart from antidepressant medications, controlled studies systematically assessing efficacy and safety issues for other classes of psychotropic drugs (e.g., antipsychotic and anxiolytic medications) in HIV-infected persons are lacking. This review summarizes essential findings pertaining to the use of psychotropic medications to treat depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders in the context of HIV. It includes a discussion of clinically relevant treatment considerations (e.g., side effects, drug-drug interactions) derived from the existing literature as well as judgments that clinicians face in the absence of research data. Despite some shortcomings of the existing literature, overall there is compelling evidence that the appropriate use of psychotropic medications (coupled with behavioral therapy) can improve the quality of life of mentally ill HIV-infected individuals.

The dolabellane diterpene Dolabelladienetriol is a typical noncompetitive inhibitor of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase enzyme

We recently described that a dollabelane diterpene isolated from the marine algae Dictyota pfaffii (Dolabelladienetriol) inhibits the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) enzyme reverse transcriptase (RT), and HIV-1 replication in primary cells. Based on these findings, we investigated additional antiretroviral properties of Dolabelladienetriol. Here, we describe that Dolabelladienetriol blocked the synthesis and integration of HIV-1 provirus and completely abrogated viral replication in primary cells. Also, studies of kinetic mode of action revealed that the Dolabelladienetriol is a nonnucleoside RT inhibitor (NNRTI), acting as a noncompetitive inhibitor, with a K(i) value equal to 7.2 microM. To assess whether Dolabelladienetriol could potentiate the anti-HIV-1 effects of other HIV-1 inhibitors, HIV-1-infected cells were treated with Dolabelladienetriol at its EC(50) dose plus sub-optimal concentrations of classical antiretrovirals. Dolabelladienetriol provided an additive effect with the nucleoside RT inhibitor AZT, and a synergistic effect with the protease inhibitor atazanavir sulphate. There was no increment of the anti-HIV-1 effect resulting from the combination between Dolabelladienetriol and the NNRTI nevirapine. Using a large panel of HIV-1 isolates harboring NNRTI resistance mutations, we found no cross-resistance between Dolabelladienetriol and clinical available NNRTIs. Thus, Dolabelladienetriol is an NNRTI, with potent activity against HIV-1 isolates carrying common NNRTI-associated resistance mutations. Dolabelladienetriol may be considered as a potential new agent for anti-HIV-1 therapy.

Longitudinal analysis of behavioral, neurophysiological, viral and immunological effects of SIV infection in rhesus monkeys

A model is proposed in which a neurovirulent, microglial-passaged, simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) is used to produce central nervous system (CNS) pathology and behavioral deficits in rhesus monkeys reminiscent of those seen in humans infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The time course of disease progression was characterized by using functional measures of cognition and motor skill, as well as neurophysiologic monitoring. Concomitant assessment of immunological and virological parameters illustrated correspondence between impaired behavioral performance and viral pathogenesis. Convergent results were obtained from neuropathological findings indicative of significant CNS disease. In ongoing studies, this SIV model is being used to explore the behavioral sequelae of immunodeficiency virus infection, the viral and host factors leading to neurologic dysfunction, and to begin testing potential therapeutic agents.