Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Neuropathogenesis: A Model for HIV-Induced CNS Inflammation and Neurodegeneration

Abstract

Feline Immunodeficiency virus (FIV), similar to its human analog human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), enters the central nervous system (CNS) soon after infection and establishes a protected viral reservoir. The ensuing inflammation and damage give rise to varying degrees of cognitive decline collectively known as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Because of the similarities to HIV infection and disease, FIV has provided a useful model for both in vitro and in vivo studies of CNS infection, inflammation and pathology. This mini review summarizes insights gained from studies of early infection, immune cell trafficking, inflammation and the mechanisms of neuropathogenesis. Advances in our understanding of these processes have contributed to the development of therapeutic interventions designed to protect neurons and regulate inflammatory activity.

Investigation of the Pentathiepin Functionality as an Inhibitor of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) via a Potential Zinc Ejection Mechanism, as a Model for HIV Infection

“…During the course of our investigations we also demonstrated the validity of the FIV model for use as a HIV‐1 surrogate with 53 % sequence similarity in the minimized model (Figure ), which is supported by a number of recent reviews …”

Persistent EcoHIV infection induces nigral degeneration in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-intoxicated mice

“…(Kalia and Lang, 2015; Khanlou et al , 2009). However, there are few published reports that investigate the interplay between low-level HIV infection and development of neurodegenerative disease in animal and cellular model systems (Chai et al , 2017; Dickens et al , 2017; Jones et al , 2007; Meeker and Hudson, 2017). Therefore, we investigated the potential interactions between virus and chemically induced neurodegeneration.…”

Applications of the FIV Model to Study HIV Pathogenesis

“…Neurologic disease is an important manifestation of FIV infection, and affected cats may present with either central nervous system (CNS) or peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement [14,17,18,50,51]. In the PNS, FIV induces significantly increased numbers of CD3+ T cells and macrophages in dorsal root ganglia, and infected cats exhibit pronounced changes in epidermal nerve fiber densities [50,52].…”

“…In the PNS, FIV induces significantly increased numbers of CD3+ T cells and macrophages in dorsal root ganglia, and infected cats exhibit pronounced changes in epidermal nerve fiber densities [50,52]. FIV enters the CNS during the acute stages of infection and is present within the brain and cerebral spinal fluid [14,17,53]. The primary neuropathogenic effect of FIV infection within the CNS manifests as infiltration and accumulation of perivascular lymphocytes and macrophages (encephalitis), activation of microglial cells and astrocytes (gliosis), and occasional neuronal loss with myelin degeneration [14,17,18,53,54].…”

“…FIV enters the CNS during the acute stages of infection and is present within the brain and cerebral spinal fluid [14,17,53]. The primary neuropathogenic effect of FIV infection within the CNS manifests as infiltration and accumulation of perivascular lymphocytes and macrophages (encephalitis), activation of microglial cells and astrocytes (gliosis), and occasional neuronal loss with myelin degeneration [14,17,18,53,54]. This infiltration of inflammatory cells and Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 2 April 2018 doi:10.20944/preprints201804.0009.v1…”