Effect of long-term administration of antiretroviral drugs (Tenofovir and Nevirapine) on neuroinflammation and neuroplasticity in mouse hippocampi

Publication date: Available online 15 October 2018Source: Journal of Chemical NeuroanatomyAuthor(s): Simo S. Zulu, Nicola Simola, Musa V. Mabandla, William M.U. DanielsAbstractThe use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has been successful in suppressing HIV-1 replication and restoring peripheral immune functioning in HIV-infected individuals. Despite these advances in the management of HIV, neurocognitive impairments continue to be diagnosed in HIV-infected patients on treatment, even when the viral load is low. Of interest is the observation that deficiencies in brain function in these individuals are marked by a persistent presence of neuroinflammation. Therefore, in this study we investigated whether long-term exposure to ART could contribute to neuroinflammation. Mice were subsequently administered a daily single dose of either Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or Nevirapine orally for 8 weeks. After treatment, hippocampal tissue was collected from the brains of drug-treated and control mice and the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) determined. Our results showed that administration of Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and Nevirapine induced astrogliosis and up-regulated IL-1β and TNF-α. In addition, we found that Nevirapine reduced the expression of BDNF. Together these results suggest that Nevirapine promotes inflammatory and reduces neuroprotective processes in the hippocampus of mice....
Source: Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research