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Article
Role of Dysregulated Autophagy in HIV Tat, Cocaine, and cART Mediated NLRP3 Activation in Microglia
Despite the ability of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) to suppress viremia, there is persistence low levels of HIV proteins such as Transactivator of transcription (Tat) in the central nervous system...
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Article
Opioid abuse and SIV infection in non-human primates
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and drug abuse are intertwined epidemics, leading to compromised adherence to combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) and exacerbation of NeuroHIV. As opioid abuse causes incr...
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Article
Advances in the Experimental Models of HIV-Associated Neurological Disorders
Involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) in HIV-1 infection is commonly associated with neurological disorders and cognitive impairment, commonly referred to as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (...
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Article
NLRP3 Inflammasome Blockade Reduces Cocaine-Induced Microglial Activation and Neuroinflammation
Cocaine use disorder is a major health crisis that is associated with increased oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. While the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in mediating neuroinflammation is well-recognized, w...
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Article
Opioid-Mediated HIV-1 Immunopathogenesis
Despite the ability of combination antiretroviral therapy to dramatically suppress viremia, the brain continues to be a reservoir of HIV-1 low-level replication. Adding further complexity to this is the comorb...
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Article
Strategies for the use of Extracellular Vesicles for the Delivery of Therapeutics
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized, membrane-bound vesicles released from eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells that can transport cargo containing DNA, RNA, lipids and proteins, between cells as a means of...
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Article
HIV-1 Tat-Induced Astrocytic Extracellular Vesicle miR-7 Impairs Synaptic Architecture
Although combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has improved the health of millions of those living with HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Type 1), the penetration into the central nervous system (CNS) o...
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Article
Open AccessCocaine Induces Inflammatory Gut Milieu by Compromising the Mucosal Barrier Integrity and Altering the Gut Microbiota Colonization
Cocaine use disorder (CUD), a major health crisis, has traditionally been considered a complication of the CNS; however, it is also closely associated with malnourishment and deteriorating gut health. In light...
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Article
Cocaine Mediated Neuroinflammation: Role of Dysregulated Autophagy in Pericytes
Cocaine, a known psychostimulant, results in oxidative stress and inflammation. Recent studies from our group have shown that cocaine induces inflammation in glial cells. Our current study was aimed at investi...
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Article
Morphine-Mediated Brain Region-Specific Astrocytosis Involves the ER Stress-Autophagy Axis
A recent study from our lab has revealed a link between morphine-mediated autophagy and synaptic impairment. The current study was aimed at investigating whether morphine-mediated activation of astrocytes invo...
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Article
Cocaine-Mediated Downregulation of miR-124 Activates Microglia by Targeting KLF4 and TLR4 Signaling
Cocaine is known to activate microglia both in vitro and in vivo. High expression of microglial Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and their downstream signal transducers play critical roles in determining microglial act...
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Chapter
Growth and Neurotrophic Factors in HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders
The advent of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has successfully controlled replication of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leading to reduced morbidity and increased longevity of infected people...
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Article
Chronic SIV and morphine treatment increases heat shock protein 5 expression at the synapse
The abuse of opiates such as morphine in synergy with HIV infection accelerates neurocognitive impairments and neuropathology in the CNS of HIV-infected subjects, collectively referred to as HAND. To identify ...
