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Publication Detail

Title: Microglial activation is inversely associated with cognition in individuals living with HIV on effective antiretroviral therapy.

Authors: Rubin, Leah H; Sacktor, Ned; Creighton, Jason; Du, Yong; Endres, Christopher J; Pomper, Martin G; Coughlin, Jennifer M

Published In AIDS, (2018 07 31)

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Despite viral suppression, HIV-associated cognitive impairment persists and may be partially due to persistent immune signalling by cells of the myeloid-lineage. Here, we aimed to understand the contribution of activated microglia located in vulnerable brain regions (e.g. frontal, subcortical) of HIV-infected, virally suppressed (HIV+VS) individuals in relation to cognitive and motor function. DESIGN: Twenty-one HIV+VS individuals underwent PET with [11C]DPA-713 to image the translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO), a marker of microglial activation, and completed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. METHODS: Multivariable linear regressions were used to examine the contribution of [11C]DPA-713 binding to cognitive performance. RESULTS: Higher [11C]DPA-713 binding was associated with lower cognition among HIV+VS individuals. [11C]DPA-713 binding in middle frontal gyrus/frontal cortex, hippocampus/temporal cortex and occipital cortex was inversely associated with performance on a number of cognitive domains, including verbal memory, processing speed/attention/concentration, executive function, working memory and motor function. [C]DPA-713 binding in parietal cortex, cerebellum and thalamus was associated with only specific cognitive domains including visual construction and verbal memory. Binding was not associated with global cognitive performance. CONCLUSION: The findings add to the growing body of evidence that immune-mediated brain injury may contribute to domain specific, HIV-associated, cognitive vulnerabilities despite viral suppression.

PubMed ID: 29746297 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: AIDS Dementia Complex/pathology*; Adult; Anti-Retroviral Agents/therapeutic use*; Female; HIV Infections/complications; HIV Infections/drug therapy*; HIV Infections/pathology*; Humans; Male; Microglia/pathology*; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Positron-Emission Tomography; Receptors, GABA/analysis

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