"Active HIV In Large White Blood Cells May Drive Cognitive Impairment In Infected Mice"
Macrophages, large white blood cells that engulf and destroy potential pathogens, harbor active viral reserves that appear to play a key role in impaired learning and memory in mice infected with a rodent version of HIV. Chao-Jiang Gu of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and colleagues present these new findings in PLOS Pathogens. These findings add to growing evidence that macrophages harboring active HIV may transport HIV to the brain, leading to cognitive problems in infected people. The researchers suggest that EcoHIV infection of mice could serve as a powerful and versatile research tool for further investigation of these effects and development of strategies to prevent them. David Volsky, PhD, professor of medicine, pathology and infectious disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai said, “Cognitive impairment is a common problem in a wide variety of human conditions including diabetes, aging, and Alzheimer's Disease. Studies in the EcoHIV model of cognitive impairment may have broad implications for better understanding and treatment of these conditions as well."
- David J. Volsky, PhD, Professor, Medicine, Pathology, Infectious Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Chao-Jian Gu, PhD, Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai