HIV- associated dementia (HAD) is a common central nervous disorder that occurs in the late stage of HIV-1 infection. The mechanisms of how HIV-1 induces HAD are poorly understood. Direct injury to neurons might result from viral proteins, while indirect injury to neurons could occur through toxins released by microglia, macrophages, and astrocytes. In this project we show that TRAF6 protein is a mediator of the CD40 signaling pathway in macrophages, and that products released by macrophages upon stimulation by CD40L are neurotoxic. Fractionation of supernatants from CD40L-stimulated macrophages showed that the neurotoxic factor may be between 3-30 kD, and further tests demonstrated that the factor might be a protein or protein-associated.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Nakamura, Elise Y

Contributors

• Stevenson, Mario

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-011007-110636

Advisor

• Adams, David S.

Year

• 2007

Sponsor

• UMass Med

Date created

• 2007-01-10

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright