HIV, prospective memory, and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of quinolinic acid and phosphorylated Tau

J Neuroimmunol. 2018 Jun 15:319:13-18. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.03.007. Epub 2018 Mar 18.

Abstract

There is mounting evidence that prospective memory (PM) is impaired during HIV infection despite treatment. In this prospective study, 66 adults (43 HIV+ and 23 HIV negative) underwent PM assessment and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination. HIV+ participants had significantly lower PM but significantly higher CSF concentrations of CXCL10 and quinolinic acid (QUIN). Higher CSF phosphorylated Tau (pTau) was associated with worse PM. In a secondary analysis excluding outliers, higher QUIN correlated with higher pTau. CSF QUIN is thus elevated during HIV infection despite antiretroviral therapy and could indirectly contribute to impaired PM by influencing the formation of pTau.

Keywords: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Cerebrospinal fluid; Human immunodeficiency virus; Neurocognitive disorder; Tau proteins; Tryptophan.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Dementia Complex / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • AIDS Dementia Complex / complications
  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Memory Disorders / etiology
  • Memory, Episodic
  • Middle Aged
  • Phosphorylation
  • Quinolinic Acid / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • tau Proteins / cerebrospinal fluid*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • tau Proteins
  • Quinolinic Acid