Figure 1

Invasion of the blood brain barrier. HIV-1 infected immune cells release toxic viral products and inflammatory cytokines leading to degradation of tight junction proteins, oxidative stress and up-regulation of adhesion molecules. This results in the increased permeability of the blood brain barrier and increased migration of immune cells across the barrier. HIV-1 infiltrates the BBB early after infection [29] using HIV-infected monocytic cells as a “Trojan horse” for entry into brain [30].