Methods to study monocyte migration induced by HIV-infected cells

• Published in: Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) Vol. 485; p. 295
• Main Authors: Rao, Vasudev R, Eugenin, Eliseo A, Berman, Joan W, Prasad, Vinayaka R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 2009
• Subjects: Cell Line; Cell Migration Assays, Leukocyte - methods; Cell Movement; Cells, Cultured; Chemokines - immunology; HIV-1 - immunology; Humans; Monocytes - immunology; tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus - immunology
• ISSN: 1064-3745
• DOI: 10.1007/978-1-59745-170-3_20

HIV-associated dementia (HAD) is a multi-factorial disease set in motion by the presence of HIV-infected cells in the brain. A characteristic feature of HAD is the infiltration of mononuclear phagocytes into the brain, which is aided by HIV-1 Tat protein and other chemokines secreted by both HIV-infected cells and uninfected cells in their vicinity. Both direct and indirect chemokine activity of HIV-1 Tat protein has been demonstrated employing purified recombinant Tat protein. However, a corroboration of a key role for Tat or other chemokines in monocyte migration, in the context of HIV-infection, has not yet been demonstrated. Here we describe methods, to measure the role of soluble factors, such as chemokines and Tat, released by HIV-infected cells or uninfected cells in their vicinity, in monocyte migration in vitro.