Chemokine receptor mRNA expression at the in vitro blood-brain barrier during HIV infection.

VIRAL entry through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has not been fully defined and identification of co-receptors that can facilitate this phenomenon is crucial in understanding disease progression. Using a RNAse protection assay to examine chemokine receptor families simultaneously, we analyzed the total RNA of in vitro BBB cultures treated with purified preparations of HIV gp120, gp41, TAT proteins and TNF-α. HIV tat protein affected CCR1 and CCR3 mRNA expression whereas the other viral by-products had no effect. Interestingly, TNF-α was able to induce CCR1, CCR3 as well as CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR4 receptors and Burkitt's lymphoma receptor BLR2. These results suggest that HIV-induced molecules can manipulate the surface receptor expression of the BBB to allow for their preferential entry into brain.