Methamphetamine causes depletion of glutathione and an increase in oxidized glutathione in the rat striatum and prefrontal cortex

Imaging oxidative stress in brains of chronic methamphetamine users: A combined 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and peripheral blood biomarker study

Introduction

Preclinical data suggest methamphetamine (MA), a widely used stimulant drug, can harm the brain by causing oxidative stress and inflammation, but only limited information is available in humans. We tested the hypothesis that levels of glutathione (GSH), a major antioxidant, would be lower in the brains of chronic human MA preferring polysubstance users. We also explored if concentrations of peripheral immunoinflammatory blood biomarkers were related with brain GSH concentrations.

Methods

20 healthy controls (HC) (33 years; 11 M) and 14 MA users (40 years; 9 M) completed a magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) scan, with GSH spectra obtained by the interleaved J-difference editing MEGA-PRESS method in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Peripheral blood samples were drawn for measurements of immunoinflammatory biomarkers. Independent samples t-tests evaluated MA vs. HC differences in GSH.

Results

GSH levels did not differ between HC and MA users (ACC p = 0.30; DLPFC p = 0.85). A total of 17 of 25 immunoinflammatory biomarkers were significantly elevated in MA users and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 (r = 0.577, p = 0.039), myeloperoxidase (MPO) (r = -0.556, p = 0.049), and MMP-9 (r = 0.660, p = 0.038) were correlated with brain levels of GSH.

Conclusion

Normal brain GSH in living brain of chronic MA users is consistent with our previous postmortem brain finding and suggests that any oxidative stress caused by MA, at the doses used by our participants, might not be sufficient to cause either a compensatory increase in, or substantial overutilization of, this antioxidant. Additionally, more research is required to understand how oxidative stress and inflammatory processes are related and potentially dysregulated in MA use.

Proteomic and Metabolomic Characterization of Human Neurovascular Unit Cells in Response to Methamphetamine

The functional state of the neurovascular unit (NVU), composed of the blood-brain barrier and the perivasculature that forms a dynamic interface between the blood and the central nervous system (CNS), plays a central role in the control of brain homeostasis and is strongly affected by CNS drugs. Human primary brain microvascular endothelium, astrocyte, pericyte, and neural cell cultures are often used to study NVU barrier functions as well as drug transport and efficacy; however, the proteomic and metabolomic responses of these different cell types are not well characterized. Culturing each cell type separately, using deep coverage proteomic analysis and characterization of the secreted metabolome, as well as measurements of mitochondrial activity, the responses of these cells under baseline conditions and when exposed to the NVU-impairing stimulant methamphetamine (Meth) are analyzed. These studies define the previously unknown metabolic and proteomic profiles of human brain pericytes and lead to improved characterization of the phenotype of each of the NVU cell types as well as cell-specific metabolic and proteomic responses to Meth.

Protective Effects of Propofol Against Methamphetamine-induced Neurotoxicity

CONTEXT

Methamphetamine (METH) is widely abused in worldwide. METH use could damage the dopaminergic system and induce neurotoxicity via oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Propofol, a sedative-hypnotic agent, is known for its antioxidant properties. In this study, we used propofol for attenuating of METH-induced neurotoxicity in rats.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We used Wistar rats that the groups (six rats each group) were as follows: Control, METH (5 mg/kg IP), and propofol (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, IP) was administered 30 min before METH. After 24 h, animals were killed, brain tissue was separated and the mitochondrial fraction was isolated, and oxidative stress markers were measured.

RESULTS

Our results showed that METH significantly increased oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species formation and glutathione oxidation in the brain, and isolated mitochondria. Propofol significantly inhibited METH-induced oxidative stress in the brain and isolated mitochondria. Mitochondrial function decreased dramatically after METH administration that propofol pretreatment significantly improved mitochondrial function. Mitochondrial swelling and catalase activity also increased after METH exposure but was significantly decreased with propofol pretreatment.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that propofol prevented METH-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequently METH-induced neurotoxicity. Therefore, the effectiveness of this antioxidant should be evaluated for the treatment of METH toxicity and neurodegenerative disease.

Reactive oxygen species scavenger N-acetyl cysteine reduces methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia without affecting motor activity in mice

Hyperthermia is a potentially lethal side effect of Methamphetamine (Meth) abuse, which involves the participation of peripheral thermogenic sites such as the Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT). In a previous study we found that the anti-oxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) can prevent the high increase in temperature in a mouse model of Meth-hyperthermia. Here, we have further explored the ability of NAC to modulate Meth-induced hyperthermia in correlation with changes in BAT. We found that NAC treatment in controls causes hypothermia, and, when administered prior or upon the onset of Meth-induced hyperthermia, can ameliorate the temperature increase and preserve mitochondrial numbers and integrity, without affecting locomotor activity. This was different from Dantrolene, which decreased motor activity without affecting temperature. The effects of NAC were seen in spite of its inability to recover the decrease of mitochondrial superoxide induced in BAT by Meth. In addition, NAC did not prevent the Meth-induced decrease of BAT glutathione. Treatment with S-adenosyl-L-methionine, which improves glutathione activity, had an effect in ameliorating Meth-induced hyperthermia, but also modulated motor activity. This suggests a role for the remaining glutathione for controlling temperature. However, the mechanism by which NAC operates is independent of glutathione levels in BAT and specific to temperature. Our results show that, in spite of the absence of a clear mechanism of action, NAC is a pharmacological tool to examine the dissociation between Meth-induced hyperthermia and motor activity, and a drug of potential utility in treating the hyperthermia associated with Meth-abuse.

Psychostimulants and brain dysfunction: a review of the relevant neurotoxic effects

Psychostimulants abuse is a major public concern because is associated with serious health complications, including devastating consequences on the central nervous system (CNS). The neurotoxic effects of these drugs have been extensively studied. Nevertheless, numerous questions and uncertainties remain in our understanding of these toxic events. Thus, the purpose of the present manuscript is to review cellular and molecular mechanisms that might be responsible for brain dysfunction induced by psychostimulants. Topics reviewed include some classical aspects of neurotoxicity, such as monoaminergic system and mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity and hyperthermia. Moreover, recent literature has suggested new phenomena regarding the toxic effects of psychostimulants. Thus, we also reviewed the impact of these drugs on neuroinflammatory response, blood-brain barrier (BBB) function and neurogenesis. Assessing the relative importance of these mechanisms on psychostimulants-induced brain dysfunction presents an exciting challenge for future research efforts. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'CNS Stimulants'.

Caffeic acid protects tissue antioxidants and DNA content in methamphetamine induced tissue toxicity in Sprague Dawley rats

Caffeic acid (CA) (3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid) is among the major hydroxycinnamic acids. Hydroxycinnamic acid is the major subgroup of phenolic compounds. Methamphetamine (METH) is a potent addictive psychostimulant. Chronic use and acute METH intoxication can cause substantial medical consequences, including spleen, kidney, liver and heart. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of CA to protect against oxidative stress and DNA damage to various organs in METH toxicity. Thirty-two male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four equal groups: group 1 was injected (i.p) with saline (1 mL/kg) while groups 2,3 and 4 were injected (i.p) with METH (10 mg/kg) twice a day over five days period. Where 100 & 200 mg/kg of CA were injected (i.p) into groups 3 and 4, respectively one day before exposure to METH injections. Tissue antioxidants and DNA content were evaluated in different tissues. METH decreased glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels while increased malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and protein carbonyl levels in brain (hypothalamus), liver, and kidney tissues of rats. METH increased hyperdiploidy in these tissues and DNA damage results. Prior treatment of CA to animals exposed to METH restores the above parameters to the normal levels and preserves the DNA content of these tissues. These results were supported by histopathological investigations. In conclusion, METH induced oxidative stress and DNA damage and pretreatment of CA before METH injections prevented tissue oxidative stress and DNA damage in METH-treated animals.

Methamphetamine decreases levels of glutathione peroxidases 1 and 4 in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells: protective effects of selenium

Methamphetamine interferes with dopamine reuptake, and the resulting increased dopamine oxidation that creates oxidative stress can lead to degeneration of dopaminergic terminals. Previous studies have shown that the trace element selenium protects against methamphetamine toxicity. However, the specific selenoproteins responsible for protection have not been elucidated. Glutathione peroxidases 1 and 4 (GPx1 and GPx4) incorporate selenium into the amino acid selenocysteine, and their known antioxidant functions make them good candidates for protection from methamphetamine-induced oxidative damage. We differentiated SH-SY5Y neuronal cells in serum-free media with defined supplement containing 0, 10 and 100 nM selenium, and then challenged the cells with a 24-h exposure to methamphetamine. We found that 100 μM methamphetamine decreased GPx1 and GPx4 protein levels. However, both proteins were upregulated with increasing media selenium concentration. GPx enzymatic activity was also increased by selenium and decreased by methamphetamine and correlated with GPx protein levels. Total glutathione levels were reduced by methamphetamine at lower selenium conditions, while the oxidized fraction of GSH was increased at higher selenium levels. Additionally, we observed an increased generation of reactive oxygen species with methamphetamine exposure in media with 0 nM selenium, which was ameliorated by selenium supplementation. These results show that methamphetamine increases oxidative stress by reducing GPx levels, and this can be reversed with addition of selenium. These findings have important implications for treating patients with acute methamphetamine toxicity.

Oxidative stress status in recently abstinent methamphetamine abusers

AIM

Methamphetamine (METH) administration is associated with excessive oxidative stress. It is not known whether the systemic oxidative stress indices would alter during early abstinence in METH abusers with positive urine testing for recent METH exposure.

METHODS

Sixty-four non-treatment-seeking METH abusers enrolled from a controlled environment and 60 healthy controls participated in the study. Fasting serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and anti-oxidant indices, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, and glutathione (GSH) levels, were measured at baseline and 2 weeks after the first measurement. We compared the differences of these oxidative stress indices between METH abusers and controls and examined the changes of the indices 2 weeks after baseline in the METH group.

RESULTS

At baseline, the recently abstinent METH abusers had significantly higher MDA levels, lower SOD activity, and higher CAT activity and GSH levels compared to healthy controls. CAT and GSH values were positively correlated with MDA but negatively correlated with SOD. These oxidative stress indices did not significantly correlate with age, smoking amount, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test scores, or METH use variables. After 2 more weeks of abstinence, the indices did not alter nor normalize.

CONCLUSION

Compared to controls, we found that METH abusers have persistently higher systemic oxidative stress throughout early abstinence. The compromised SOD as well as elevated CAT activity and GSH levels may act together as a compensatory mechanism to counteract excessive oxidative stress induced by METH. Whether the oxidative stress could improve after a longer period of abstinence needs to be examined in future studies.

N-Acetyl Cysteine Protects against Methamphetamine-Induced Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration via Modulation of Redox Status and Autophagy in Dopaminergic Cells

Methamphetamine- (MA-) induced neurotoxicity is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and enhanced oxidative stress. Our previous study demonstrated that MA induces autophagy in a dopaminergic neuronal cell model (N27 cells). The cellular mechanisms underlying MA-induced autophagy and apoptosis remain poorly characterized. In the present study we sought to investigate the importance of GSH redox status in MA-induced neurotoxicity using a thiol antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Morphological and biochemical analysis revealed that MA-induced autophagy in N27 dopaminergic cells was associated with pronounced depletion of GSH levels. Moreover, pretreatment with NAC reduced MA-induced GSH depletion and autophagy, while depletion of GSH using L-buthionine sulfoximine (L-BSO) enhanced autophagy. Furthermore, treatment with NAC significantly attenuated MA-induced apoptotic cell death as well as oxidative stress markers, namely, 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). Together, these results suggest that NAC exhibits significant protective effects against MA-induced dopaminergic cell death, presumably via modulation of the GSH level and autophagy. Collectively, our data provide mechanistic insights into the role of cellular GSH redox status in MA-induced autophagy and apoptotic cell death, and additional studies are needed to determine the therapeutic effectiveness of cellular redox modifiers in attenuating dopaminergic neurodegeneration in vivo.

Protective effects of the antioxidant sulforaphane on behavioral changes and neurotoxicity in mice after the administration of methamphetamine

RATIONALE

Methamphetamine (METH) is a powerfully addictive stimulant associated with serious health conditions. Accumulating evidence suggests a role of oxidative stress in METH-induced behavioral abnormalities. Sulforaphane (SFN), found in cruciferous vegetables, is a potent antioxidant. It is of interest to determine whether SFN can attenuate behavioral and neuropathological changes associated with METH exposure.

OBJECTIVES

This study was undertaken to examine the effects of SFN on behavioral changes and dopaminergic neurotoxicity in mice exposed to METH.

METHODS

The effects of SFN on acute hyperlocomotion and the development of behavioral sensitization induced by the administration of METH were examined. Levels of dopamine (DA) and its major metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DOPAC) in the striatum were measured. In addition, DA transporter (DAT) immunoreactivity was also performed.

RESULTS

Pretreatment with SFN at 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg elicited a dose-dependent attenuation of acute hyperlocomotion in mice, after a single administration of METH (3 mg/kg). The development of behavioral sensitization after repeated administrations of METH (3 mg/kg/day, once daily for 5 days) was significantly reduced by pretreatment with SFN (10 mg/kg). In addition, the lowering of DA levels and DOPAC as well as DAT immunoreactivity in the striatum, usually seen after repeated administration of METH, was significantly attenuated by both pretreatment and the subsequent administration of SFN. Furthermore, SFN significantly reduced microglial activation in the striatum after repeated exposure to METH.

CONCLUSION

It is therefore likely that SFN can be a useful drug for the treatment of signs associated with METH abuse in humans.

N-Acetylcysteine amide protects against methamphetamine-induced tissue damage in CD-1 mice

Methamphetamine (METH), a highly addictive drug used worldwide, induces oxidative stress in various animal organs, especially the brain. This study evaluated oxidative damage caused by METH to tissues in CD-1 mice and identified a therapeutic drug that could protect against METH-induced toxicity. Male CD-1 mice were pretreated with a novel thiol antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA, 250 mg/kg body weight) or saline. Following this, METH (10 mg/kg body weight) or saline intraperitoneal injections were administered every 2 h over an 8-h period. Animals were killed 24 h after the last exposure. NACA-treated animals exposed to METH experienced significantly lower oxidative stress in their kidneys, livers, and brains than the untreated group, as indicated by their levels of glutathione, malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl and their catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity. This suggests that METH induces oxidative stress in various organs and that a combination of NACA as a neuro- or tissue-protective agent, in conjunction with current treatment, might effectively treat METH abusers.

Knocking down the transcript of protein kinase C-lambda modulates hypothalamic glutathione peroxidase, melanocortin receptor and neuropeptide Y gene expression in amphetamine-treated rats

It has been reported that neuropeptide Y (NPY) contributes to the behavioral response of amphetamine (AMPH), a psychostimulant. The present study examined whether protein kinase C (PKC)-λ signaling was involved in this action. Moreover, possible roles of glutathione peroxidase (GP) and melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) were also examined. Rats were given AMPH daily for 4 days. Hypothalamic NPY, PKCλ, GP and MC4R were determined and compared. Pretreatment with α-methyl-para-tyrosine could block AMPH-induced anorexia, revealing that endogenous catecholamine was involved in regulating AMPH anorexia. PKCλ, GP and MC4R were increased with maximal response on Day 2 during AMPH treatment, which were concomitant with the decreases in NPY. cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) DNA binding activity was increased during AMPH treatment, revealing the involvement of CREB-dependent gene transcription. An interruption of cerebral PKCλ transcript could partly block AMPH-induced anorexia and partly reverse NPY, MC4R and GP mRNA levels to normal. These results suggest that PKCλ participates in regulating AMPH-induced anorexia via a modulation of hypothalamic NPY gene expression and that increases of GP and MC4R may contribute to this modulation. Our results provided molecular evidence for the regulation of AMPH-induced behavioral response.

N-Acetylcysteine amide protects against methamphetamine-induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in immortalized human brain endothelial cells

Oxidative stress plays an important role in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Methamphetamine (METH) is an amphetamine analog that causes degeneration of the dopaminergic system in mammals and subsequent oxidative stress. In our present study, we have used immortalized human brain microvascular endothelial (HBMVEC) cells to test whether N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA), a novel antioxidant, prevents METH-induced oxidative stress in vitro. Our studies showed that NACA protects against METH-induced oxidative stress in HBMVEC cells. NACA significantly protected the integrity of our blood brain barrier (BBB) model, as shown by permeability and trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) studies. NACA also significantly increased the levels of intracellular glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased dramatically after METH exposure, but this increase was almost completely prevented when the cells were treated with NACA. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) also increased after METH exposure, but was reduced to control levels with NACA treatment, as measured by dichlorofluorescin (DCF). These results suggest that NACA protects the BBB integrity in vitro, which could prevent oxidative stress-induced damage; therefore, the effectiveness of this antioxidant should be evaluated for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in the future.

Impairment in consolidation of learned place preference following dopaminergic neurotoxicity in mice is ameliorated by N-acetylcysteine but not D1 and D2 dopamine receptor agonists

Some of the major concerns related to methamphetamine (METH) abuse are the neuronal damage inflicted at dopamine (DA) nerve terminals and the cognitive deficits observed in human METH abusers. We have shown that a high dose of METH selectively depleted dopaminergic markers in striatum, frontal cortex and amygdala of Swiss Webster mice, and impaired learned place preference. In this study, we investigated whether deficits in consolidation of place learning, as a consequence of METH neurotoxicity, underlie the underperformance of cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP). Administration of METH (5 mg/kg x 3) to Swiss Webster mice decreased striatal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive neurons and significantly increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression, confirming the neurotoxic potential of METH in mice. This treatment significantly attenuated the establishment of cocaine (15 mg/kg) CPP compared to control. To investigate whether manipulation of the consolidation phase improves learned place preference, mice were trained by cocaine and received daily post-training injections of DA receptor agonists or N-acetylcysteine (NAC). As memory consolidation occurs shortly after training, drugs were administered either immediately or 2 h post-training. Immediate post-training administration of the D1 DA receptor agonist SKF38393 (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) or the D2 DA receptor agonist quinpirole (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg) did not improve the establishment of CPP following METH neurotoxicity. However, immediate but not delayed NAC administration (50 and 100 mg/kg) enhanced cocaine CPP following METH neurotoxicity and had no effect on control CPP. The levels of the reduced form of glutathione (GSH) in striatum, amygdala, hippocampus and frontal cortex were significantly lower in METH-treated mice compared to control during the period of CPP training. Acute and repeated administration of NAC to METH-treated mice restored the decreased brain GSH but had no effect on controls. Results suggest that METH-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity is associated with impairment of consolidation of learned place preference, and that this impairment is improved by immediate post-training administration of the glutathione precursor NAC and not by D1 or D2 DA receptor agonists. Restoration of brain glutathione levels immediately post-training may facilitate the consolidation process.

Progressive degeneration of human mesencephalic neuron-derived cells triggered by dopamine-dependent oxidative stress is dependent on the mixed-lineage kinase pathway

Models of Parkinson's disease (PD) based on selective neuronal death have been used to study pathogenic mechanisms underlying nigral cell death and in some instances to develop symptomatic therapies. For validation of putative neuroprotectants, a model is desirable in which the events leading to neurodegeneration replicate those occurring in the disease. We developed a human in vitro model of PD based on the assumption that dysregulated cytoplasmic dopamine levels trigger cell loss in this disorder. Differentiated human mesencephalic neuron-derived cells were exposed to methamphetamine (METH) to promote cytoplasmic dopamine accumulation. In the presence of elevated iron concentrations, as observed in PD, increased cytosolic dopamine led to oxidative stress, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway activation, neurite degeneration, and eventually apoptosis. We examined the role of the mixed-lineage kinases (MLKs) in this complex degenerative cascade by using the potent inhibitor 3,9-bis[(ethylthio)methyl]-K-252a (CEP1347). Inhibition of MLKs not only prevented FeCl2+/METH-induced JNK activation and apoptosis but also early events such as neurite degeneration and oxidative stress. This broad neuroprotective action of CEP1347 was associated with increased expression of an oxidative stress-response modulator, activating transcription factor 4. As a functional consequence, transcription of the cystine/glutamate and glycine transporters, cellular cystine uptake and intracellular levels of the redox buffer glutathione were augmented. In conclusion, this new human model of parkinsonian neurodegeneration has the potential to yield new insights into neurorestorative therapeutics and suggests that enhancement of cytoprotective mechanisms, in addition to blockade of apoptosis, may be essential for disease modulation.

Methamphetamine and human immunodeficiency virus protein Tat synergize to destroy dopaminergic terminals in the rat striatum

Dysfunction of the dopaminergic system accompanied by loss of dopamine in the striatum is a major feature of human immunodeficiency virus-1-associated dementia. Previous studies have shown that human immunodeficiency virus-1-associated dementia patients with a history of drug abuse have rapid neurological progression, prominent psychomotor slowing, more severe encephalitis and more severe dendritic and neuronal damage in the frontal cortex compared with human immunodeficiency virus-1-associated dementia patients without a history of drug abuse. In a previous study, we showed that methamphetamine and human immunodeficiency virus-1 protein Tat interact to produce a synergistic decline in dopamine levels in the rat striatum. The present study was carried out to understand the underlying cause for the loss of dopamine. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered saline, methamphetamine, Tat or Tat followed by methamphetamine 24 h later. Two and seven days later the animals were killed and tissue sections from striatum were processed for silver staining to examine terminal degeneration while sections from striatum and substantia nigra were processed for tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity. Striatal tissue was also analyzed by Western blotting for tyrosine hydroxylase protein levels. Compared with controls, methamphetamine+Tat-treated animals showed extensive silver staining and loss of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity and protein levels in the ipsilateral striatum. There was no apparent loss of tyrosine hydroxylase in the substantia nigra. Markers for oxidative stress were significantly increased in striatal synaptosomes from Tat+methamphetamine group compared with controls. The results indicate that methamphetamine and Tat interact to produce an enhanced injury to dopaminergic nerve terminals in the striatum with sparing of the substantia nigra by a mechanism involving oxidative stress. These findings suggest a possible mode of interaction between methamphetamine and human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection to produce enhanced dopaminergic neurotoxicity in human immunodeficiency virus-1 infected/methamphetamine-abusing patients.

Methamphetamine stimulates interferon inducible genes in HIV infected brain

OBJECTIVE

To study the synergism of HIV and methamphetamine.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We undertook a microarray study using RNA from the frontal cortex of 15 individuals with HIV infection to initially identify genes that are differentially regulated by HIV encephalitis (HIVE). From the analysis of the microarray data, we identified candidate genes to be validated by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) and to assess if these genes were differentially modulated in individuals with HIVE and documented methamphetamine use.

RESULTS

Analysis of microarray data revealed that genes involved in several categories were dysregulated in HIVE. We then chose 15 candidate genes for validation by qRT-PCR and analyzed the tissue concentration of these genes across three groups: those with HIV infection and no brain pathology, those with HIVE, and those with both HIVE and a history of methamphetamine use. We noted that there was upregulation of interferon inducible genes in the HIVE with methamphetamine using group, which together as a gene group was highly statistically significant (p=0.0064).

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that dysregulation of interferon inducible genes may underlie the pathogenic mechanism resulting in greater neurodegenerative and neurocognitive burden that occurs in methamphetamine using HIV infected individuals.