NutraStem as a neuroprotectant: Implications for neurogenesis in HAART treated patients

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 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We designed an experiment to understand the interactions between loss of development of new neurons (neurogenesis) in the brain, HIV-1 Tat protein, and the known cognitive side-effects imparted by chronic highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We preliminarily found the common HAART combination for HIV patients ,lamivudine/zidovudine/efavirenz (3TC/AZT/EFV): (1) reduced primary neural stem cell proliferation in vitro (2) increased NSC mitochondrial oxidative stress and that these could be opposed in vitro by NutraStem(r). We also show this regimen decreases hippocampal neurogenesis in vivo. We hypothesize NutraStem(r) will oppose HAART and Tat mediated neurogenesis pathology by reducing the effect of these two components on mitochondrial stress, in turn promoting neurogenesis, and reducing neurocognitive deficits in HIV-1 Tat transgenic mice. Here we plan to characterize neurocognition, and neurogenesis in HIV-1 Tat mice chronically treated with HAART. EFV or EFV/3TC/AZT should lead to advanced neurocognitive deficits in these mice that should be enhanced by brain HIV-1 Tat expression which that can be correlated with decreases in neurogenesis, compared to control AZT, or 3TC treated mice. NutraStem(r) should attenuate this phenomenon. We expect that other indicators of this NutraStem(r) mediated neuroprotection will include a reduction of memory problems which will be tested and brain mitochondrial stress in the Tat/HAART exposed mice. This study is expected to describe the long-term consequences of chronic Tat expression with use of a common HAART regimen plus a neuroprotectant (NutraStem(r)) in terms of neurogenesis and cognitive deficits. It should lay the foundation for effective strategies to prevent these interactions between Tat, HAART, and neurogenesis in the future in the context of a known HAART-mediated pathophysiological mechanism.