Glial alterations in tuberculous and cryptococcal meningitis and their relation to HIV co-infection – A study on human brains

Introduction: Tuberculosis and cryptococcal infection of the central nervous system are common AIDS-associated opportunistic infections in tropical underdeveloped and developing countries. To date, research on these infections has focused on clinical, imaging, laboratory diagnosis, and animal models...

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Main Authors: Surya Tripathi, Ishan Patro, Anita Mahadevan, Nisha Patro, Mariamma Phillip, Susarla Krishna Shankar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2014-11-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3894
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author Surya Tripathi
Ishan Patro
Anita Mahadevan
Nisha Patro
Mariamma Phillip
Susarla Krishna Shankar
author_facet Surya Tripathi
Ishan Patro
Anita Mahadevan
Nisha Patro
Mariamma Phillip
Susarla Krishna Shankar
author_sort Surya Tripathi
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Tuberculosis and cryptococcal infection of the central nervous system are common AIDS-associated opportunistic infections in tropical underdeveloped and developing countries. To date, research on these infections has focused on clinical, imaging, laboratory diagnosis, and animal models to elucidate the pathogenesis. There is paucity of information on astroglial and microglial alterations in the human nervous system following these infections. Methodology: The pathomorphologic and morphometric alterations of astroglia and microglia in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in cases of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and cryptococcal meningitis (CM) with and without associated HIV were described and compared with cases of HIV encephalitis without opportunistic infections (OI) and HIV-negative human brain tissue. Results: In TBM, the microglia and astrocytes were activated with hypertrophy and hyperplasia, aggregating in the subpial zone and around granulomas in meningeal exudate. In cases of cryptococcal meningitis, reactive changes were less prominent, though activation of both cellular elements was found. Association of HIV with these OIs resulted in muted glial and microglial response. In HIV encephalitis without OI, the level of activation of was low. Both astroglial and microglial cells expressed caspase-3, a pro-apoptotic marker, following HIV and opportunistic infections. Neuronal apoptosis, a mechanism to ensure neuronal survival, was less evident. The reactive astrocytes and microglia following opportunistic infection developed dystrophic changes heralding senescence. Conclusions: Further studies on neuronal-astroglial-microglial interaction will offer deeper insight into the pathogenetic and immune mechanisms in the cellular and pathomorphological evolution of tuberculous and cryptococcal infections.
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spelling doaj-art-2d67d2dd904248a8a59fbc7b05de16902025-08-20T02:27:23ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802014-11-0181110.3855/jidc.3894Glial alterations in tuberculous and cryptococcal meningitis and their relation to HIV co-infection – A study on human brainsSurya Tripathi0Ishan Patro1Anita Mahadevan2Nisha Patro3Mariamma Phillip4Susarla Krishna Shankar5National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, IndiaSchool of Studies in Neuroscience, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, IndiaNational Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, IndiaSchool of Studies in Neuroscience, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, IndiaNational Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, IndiaNational Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, IndiaIntroduction: Tuberculosis and cryptococcal infection of the central nervous system are common AIDS-associated opportunistic infections in tropical underdeveloped and developing countries. To date, research on these infections has focused on clinical, imaging, laboratory diagnosis, and animal models to elucidate the pathogenesis. There is paucity of information on astroglial and microglial alterations in the human nervous system following these infections. Methodology: The pathomorphologic and morphometric alterations of astroglia and microglia in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in cases of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and cryptococcal meningitis (CM) with and without associated HIV were described and compared with cases of HIV encephalitis without opportunistic infections (OI) and HIV-negative human brain tissue. Results: In TBM, the microglia and astrocytes were activated with hypertrophy and hyperplasia, aggregating in the subpial zone and around granulomas in meningeal exudate. In cases of cryptococcal meningitis, reactive changes were less prominent, though activation of both cellular elements was found. Association of HIV with these OIs resulted in muted glial and microglial response. In HIV encephalitis without OI, the level of activation of was low. Both astroglial and microglial cells expressed caspase-3, a pro-apoptotic marker, following HIV and opportunistic infections. Neuronal apoptosis, a mechanism to ensure neuronal survival, was less evident. The reactive astrocytes and microglia following opportunistic infection developed dystrophic changes heralding senescence. Conclusions: Further studies on neuronal-astroglial-microglial interaction will offer deeper insight into the pathogenetic and immune mechanisms in the cellular and pathomorphological evolution of tuberculous and cryptococcal infections. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3894tuberculous meningitiscryptococcal meningitisastrogliamicrogliaopportunistic infections
spellingShingle Surya Tripathi
Ishan Patro
Anita Mahadevan
Nisha Patro
Mariamma Phillip
Susarla Krishna Shankar
Glial alterations in tuberculous and cryptococcal meningitis and their relation to HIV co-infection – A study on human brains
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
tuberculous meningitis
cryptococcal meningitis
astroglia
microglia
opportunistic infections
title Glial alterations in tuberculous and cryptococcal meningitis and their relation to HIV co-infection – A study on human brains
title_full Glial alterations in tuberculous and cryptococcal meningitis and their relation to HIV co-infection – A study on human brains
title_fullStr Glial alterations in tuberculous and cryptococcal meningitis and their relation to HIV co-infection – A study on human brains
title_full_unstemmed Glial alterations in tuberculous and cryptococcal meningitis and their relation to HIV co-infection – A study on human brains
title_short Glial alterations in tuberculous and cryptococcal meningitis and their relation to HIV co-infection – A study on human brains
title_sort glial alterations in tuberculous and cryptococcal meningitis and their relation to hiv co infection a study on human brains
topic tuberculous meningitis
cryptococcal meningitis
astroglia
microglia
opportunistic infections
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3894
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