Neuropathogenesis of retrovirus infection : diverse in vivo and ex vivo analysis of HAM/TSP and AIDS encephalopathy.

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In order to clarify neuropathogenesis of retrovirus-induced neurological disorders we performed diverse in vivo and ex vivo analysis of HAM/TSP and AIDS encephalopathy. We demonstrated presence of infected mononuclear cells and accumulation of virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the inflammatory lesions of HAM/TSP. Additional studies on AIDS encephalopathy, as well as HTLV-1-associated polymyositis, suggest that invasion of infected mononuclear cells in the site of the nervous system and immune responses against these infected cells is a common pathogenic process of retrovirus induced neurological disorders. We also demonstrated that degeneration of the cerebral cortex occurs in AIDS encephalopathy independently from the inflammatory process, and dysfunction of astrocytes may have a role in this degenerative process.