Detection of human immunodeficiency virus regulatory protein tat mRNA in CNS tissues

Objective: To determine the role of Tat in mediating HIV encephalitis (HIVE). Methods: The contents of tat mRNA in tissue extracts of 9 AIDS patients with HIVE and 7 AIDS patients without HIVE were measured with RT-PCR. Results: Despite long autopsy times and significant degradation of RNA extracted from brain tissue, tat mRNA was detected in 4/9 patients with HIVE but not in any of the 7 patients without HIVE. Similarly, the env mRNA was also detected in 5/9 patients with HIVE but not in the patients without HIVE. However, vif mRNA was detected in both groups of patients with HIVE (5/9) or without HIVE (2/7). Conclusion: This result suggests that Tat likely plays an important role in the neuropathogenesis of HIVE.