Selected Grantee Publications

Chronic Immune Activation and Gut Barrier Dysfunction Is Associated with Neuroinflammation in ART-Suppressed SIV+ Rhesus Macaques

Byrnes et al., PLOS Pathogens. 2023.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10085024/

About 40% of people with HIV develop neurocognitive disorders, potentially resulting from persistent infection in the brain and neuroinflammation. Investigators characterized the central nervous system reservoir and immune environment of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)–infected rhesus macaques of both sexes during acute, chronic, or antiretroviral therapy (ART)–suppressed infection. They reported that neuroinflammation and blood–brain barrier dysfunction correlated with viremia and immune activation in the gut. Their findings suggest that gastrointestinal tract damage can contribute to neuroimmune activation and inflammation, even in the absence of SIV or HIV infection. This work also has implications for other neurological disorders where chronic inflammation is associated with pathogenesis. Supported by ORIP (P51OD011132, P51OD011092, U42OD011023, R24OD010445), NIAID, NCI, and NIMH.