Inflamación y neuropatogenia asociada al VIH

Brain HIV-1-infection may result in a syndrome of profound cognitive, behavioural and motor impairment known as AIDS dementia complex (ADC) in adults and HIV-related encephalopathy in children. Although the introduction of HAART has prolonged and improved the lives of infected individuals, it is clear that HAART does not provide complete protection against neurological damage in HIV/AIDS. HIV-1associated dementia is a complex phenomenon, which could be the result of several mechanisms caused by those players using different intracellular signalling pathways. Since HIV-1 does not easily infect neuronal cells, neuronal damage is likely to be induced by soluble factors including viral proteins, proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines or prostaglandins released by HIV-1-infected macrophages or microglial cells. These soluble factors are also responsible for activation of uninfected cells and, thus, for spreading and perpetuation of brain damage.Thus, it is necessary an antiretroviral therapy that not only inhibit microglia infection, but also diminish pro-inflammatory factors and astrocytic activation to reduce neuronal damage. Key Words: Central Nervous System, Inflammation, HIV, Cytokines, Neurodegeneration.