DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/A8E6-BY10

Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0001-8755-0141

Defense Date

2018

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Pharmaceutical Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. MaryPeace McRae

Second Advisor

Dr. Patricia Slattum

Third Advisor

Dr. Joseph McClay

Fourth Advisor

Dr. Douglas Sweet

Fifth Advisor

Dr. Kurt Hauser

Sixth Advisor

Dr. Jennifer Koblinski

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency (HIV) infection can result in neurocognitive deficits in about one-half of infected individuals. Despite excellent systemic effectiveness, restricted antiretroviral penetration across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major limitation in fighting HIV infection within the central nervous system (CNS). Drug abuse exacerbates cognitive impairment and pathologic CNS changes in HIV-infected individuals. This work investigates the effects of the HIV-1 protein, Tat, and drugs of abuse on factors affecting drug penetration into the brain.

Firstly, an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier was built to study effects of HIV-1 Tat and methamphetamine (Meth) on integrity and function of the BBB, in turn how HIV-1 Tat and meth will affect antiretroviral penetration into the brain. We found that co-exposure HIV-1 Tat and Meth results in inhibition or impairment of P-glycoprotein activity at the BBB. Also, simultaneous inhibition of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and Multidrug Resistant Protein -1 (MRP-1), by verapamil and MK-571 causes an increase in accumulation of atazanavir inside the primary human brain endothelial cells.

Secondly, we developed and validated the method for simultaneous determination of tenofovir, emtricitabine, and dolutegravir in cell extracts of CNS cells. This method was used to study how HIV-1 Tat and/or morphine affects antiretroviral penetration in CNS cells like human brain microvascular endothelial cells, human astrocytes, human microglia, and human pericytes. We found that in untreated cells, accumulation of antiretroviral drugs was higher in hCMEC/D3 cells compared to other CNS cell types. Also, HIV-1 Tat and/or morphine had no significant effect on antiretroviral penetration amongst these cell types. Overall, the rank order of intracellular accumulation observed in treated and untreated cells was dolutegravir > emtricitabine > tenofovir.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

12-14-2018

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