Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41103370›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in cellular neuroscience2025

THC reverses SIV-induced senescence in astrocytes: possible compensatory mechanism against HIV associated brain injury?

Alison R Van Zandt, Miranda D Horn, Tiffany A Peterson, Sarah Y Dickinson, Elise M Frost, Andrew G MacLean

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Alison R Van ZandtTulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University, Covington, LA, United States.
Miranda D HornTulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University, Covington, LA, United States.
Tiffany A PetersonTulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University, Covington, LA, United States.
Sarah Y DickinsonTulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University, Covington, LA, United States.
Elise M FrostTulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University, Covington, LA, United States.
Andrew G MacLeanTulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University, Covington, LA, United States.

Funding

Tulane NPRC SPF Sheltered Outdoor Enclosure ExpansionP51OD011104 · OD · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · PI L Lee HAMM · 2012 to 2026
$142.4M
Viral Testing CoreU42OD024282 · OD · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · PI Carolina Allers · 2017 to 2026
$25.7M
Viral Testing Core - Maintenance of an SPF Macaque Breeding Colony for AIDS ResearchU42OD010568 · OD · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · PI KASI E RUSSELL-LODRIGUE · 2013 to 2026
$21.7M
Eradication of latent SIV from the CNSR01NS104016 · NINDS · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · PI LING, BINHUA "JULIE", MACLEAN, ANDREW G · 2017 to 2021
$3.7M
Exploratory Research on HIV Contribution to Heart and Lung ComorbiditiesR01HL152804 · NHLBI · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · PI MACLEAN, ANDREW G · 2020 to 2023
$2.4M
High Throughput Multicolor Flow Cytometer Cell AnalyzerS10OD026800 · OD · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · PI KAUR, AMITINDER · 2019 to 2019
$594k
Exosome Origin in HIV PathogenesisR21MH113517 · NIMH · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · PI MACLEAN, ANDREW G · 2017 to 2018
$470k
Reducing the CNS reservoir through myeloid cell depletionR21MH125716 · NIMH · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · PI MACLEAN, ANDREW G · 2021 to 2022
$468k
NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL152804NIH HHS P51 OD011104NIH HHS S10 OD026800NIH HHS U42 OD010568NIH HHS U42 OD024282NIMH NIH HHS R21 MH113517NIMH NIH HHS R21 MH125716NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS104016
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Despite effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), chronic neuroinflammation and glial dysfunction continues to be an important yet understudied issue with people living with HIV (PLWH). The endocannabinoid system is increasingly recognized as a potential therapeutic target for modulating neuroimmune environments, given its role in regulating synaptic plasticity, immune responses, and neuroinflammatory cascades. However, the extent to which cannabinoids influence HIV-associated neuroinflammation remains unclear. Methods: This study investigates the impact of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on astrocyte growth characteristics, viability, and senescence-associated cytokine release following exposure to Tat protein using primary mixed glial cultures derived from rhesus macaques. Real-time impedance-based cellular integrity assessments were conducted using the xCELLigence system, while morphological analyses and cytokine quantification were performed using phase-contrast microscopy and multiplex immunoassays. Results: Treatment of SIV-infected macaques with THC protected the astrocytes from virus-induced senescence. Further, THC facilitated a rapid recovery from Tat-induced decline in astrocyte adhesion, suggesting a compensatory effect. THC promoted glial process elongation and morphological complexity, indicative of a shift toward a neuroprotective phenotype. Furthermore, THC significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine secretion, including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, in an apparently dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: These findings suggest that THC may modulate neuroinflammation in PLWH by promoting astrocytic survival, suppressing inflammatory cytokine secretion, and enhancing neurotrophic signaling. However, prolonged exposure to high-dose THC may negatively impact glial survival. The results underscore the complexity of cannabinoid signaling in the CNS and highlight the potential of cannabinoid-based interventions to mitigate HIV-associated neuroinflammation.

Indexed as

astrocyte activationcannabinoid receptor modulationCB1/CB2 receptor activationendocannabinoid signalingHIV-associated brain injury (HABI)NeuroHIVneuroprotectionTat neurotoxicity

Identifiers

PMID41103370
PMCPMC12521829

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.