Deprenyl Reduces Inflammation During Acute SIV Infection

In the era of antiretroviral therapy, inflammation is currently a central factor in a growing number of HIV-associated comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, and neuropsychiatric disorders. This highlights the value of developing therapeutics that both reduce HIV-associated inflammation and treat associated co-morbidities. Previous research on monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) suggests that this class of drugs has anti-inflammatory properties in addition to neuropsychiatric effects. Therefore, we examined the impact of the deprenyl, an MAOI, on SIV-associated inflammation during acute SIV infection using the rhesus macaque model of HIV infection. Our results show that deprenyl decreased both peripheral and CNS inflammation but had no effect on viral load in either the periphery or CNS. These data show that the MAOI deprenyl has broad anti-inflammatory effects when given during the acute stage of SIV infection, suggesting that repurposing this drug could provide a beneficial adjuvant for antiretroviral therapy.