Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kv10.1

Title: Direct cytotoxicity of HIV-1 envelope protein gp120 on human NT neurons.

Authors: P Wu, P Price, B Du, W C Hatch, E F Terwilliger

Journal, date & volume: Neuroreport, 1996 Apr 10 , 7, 1045-9

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8804048

Abstract
A new in vitro system comprising a pure population of neurons, human NT cells, was used to characterize the direct neurotoxic effect of HIV-1 envelope protein gp120. Cytotoxicity was monitored by a quantitative assay after exposure to recombinant gp120 in the presence or absence of other reagents. Treatment of mature NT neurons with various doses of gp120 for 24 h caused a decrease of up to 27% in the number of viable cells. This neurotoxicity was abolished by co-treatment with either D-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (APV), MK801 or nimodipine, or by culturing cells in a Ca(2+)-free environment. Taken together, these data indicate that gp120 exerts a direct neurotoxic effect by acting through NMDA receptors and Ca2+ channels.