Lead Inventor:
Paul B. Fisher, Ph.D.
HIV-1 and Aids Origins Require Identifying Molecular Changes During HIV-1 Infection
Neurodegeneration and dementia are common complications of AIDS caused by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection of the central nervous system. HIV-1 target microglial cells, infiltrating macrophages and astrocytes. Astrocytes play a very important functional role in nervous system. The dysfunction of astrocytes will have impact on neuronal function and survival leading to neurodegenerative disease. However, the pathological origins associated with HIV-1 infection of astrocytes are not clear, which impede further development in effective diagnosis and treatment. Thus, there is unmet need to identify novel molecular changes during HIV-1 infection of central nervous system.
Astrocyte Modulated Genes (AMGs) Identified as Testing Agents in HIV-1 Treatment and Prevention
This invention described Astrocyte Modulated Genes (AMGs). AMGs comprise both Astrocyte Enhanced Genes (AEGs) and Astrocyte Suppressed Genes (ASGs). The expression of AEG are up-regulated in human astrocytes grown in primary cell culture that are exposed to either the human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1 or to the HIV-1 protein gp120; the expression of ASGs are down-regulated under the same conditions. It provides the composition of nucleic acids or fragment of the nucleic acids of AMGs. It also provides a protein or its peptide fragment encoded by the nucleic acid sequence and an antibody against the protein. In addition, this invention also described the method of testing agents useful in treating or preventing HIV-1 infection or HIV-1-associated dementia.
Applications:
• It can be used to screen for drugs that treat or prevent neurological disorders associated with increased extracellular glutamate levels, such as HIV-1-associated dementia
• It could be developed into molecular diagnostic kit for HIV-1 infection and/or HIV-1-associated dementia
• It has the potential to be developed into novel gene therapy method or immunotherapy in treating HIV-1-associated dementia
Advantages:
• Instead of one gene associated with HIV-infection, this invention identified two categories of genes that are regulated under HIV-1 infection, which might provide more reliable and accurate profile in terms of developing it into future molecular diagnostic kit
• The method can be applied both in vitro and in vivo, which offered use in a broad technology platform
Patent Status: Patent Pending (US20090203885A1; US 7,517,973) ~ see links below.
Licensing Status: Available for Licensing
Publications: Su ZZ, Fisher PB. Identification of gene products suppressed by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection or gp120 exposure of primary human astrocytes by rapid subtraction hybridization.
J Neurovirol (2003) 9(3): 372-89