Researchers have found that astrocytes, a type of brain cell, can harbor and spread the HIV virus to other organs in the body. The study also revealed that even with treatment cover with combination antiretroviral therapy, HIV virus can still be spread to immune cells from the brain into other organs of the body.
The study shows the critical role the brain plays as a hide-out for HIV. According to the study authors, these findings suggest that treatment strategies for HIV must address the role of the brain in order to eradicate the virus.
The brain contains billions of astrocytes, which play a role in signal transmission between brain cells and helping to provide structural integrity to the brain’s border with the rest of the body, the blood-brain barrier. In an experimental study to determine how HIV moves within these brain cells and to other organs, the study team transplanted HIV-infected astrocytes into the brains of immunodeficient mice. Their results showed that the astrocytes could spread the virus to immune cells in the brain, which migrated out of the brain into the rest of the body, spreading the virus as they go.
One take home message from this study is that the brain reservoir of HIV will need to be eradicated for HIV cure to occur. The search for an HIV cure remains one of the major scientific pursuits of our time.
Read more here – https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/brain-cells-can-harbor-spread-hiv-virus-body
