Fig. 1

Glial expression of Cx43 is upregulated in HIV-infected individuals. Cx43 and Cx30 glial expression was evaluated using human brain tissue sections obtained from uninfected and HIV-infected individuals with mild and HIVE. Brain sections were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. Astrocyte expression of Cx43 or Cx30 (FITC green) was evaluated using glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP, an astrocyte marker, red staining) and HIV infection by staining with HIV-p24 antibodies. In uninfected tissue sections, Cx43 and Cx30 localized in astrocytes (uninfected row). In contrast, in tissues obtained from HIV-infected individuals, Cx43 was highly upregulated, while Cx30 was downregulated. DAPI staining was used in counter staining. Arrows represent colocalization of GFAP, Cx43, and HIV-p24. Thus, HIV infection increases Cx43 expression, but not Cx30, in astrocytes