Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41483449›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurovirology2026

Effects of cigarette smoke and HIV-1 factors on blood-brain barrier integrity and permeability in an in vitro model.

Joseph D Walker, Binu Tharakan, Talib Saafir, Walter Royal

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurovirology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Joseph D WalkerDepartment of Neurobiology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Binu TharakanNeuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Talib SaafirDepartment of Neurobiology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Walter RoyalDepartment of Biology and Center for Brain Health Research, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, USA. walter.royal@morgan.edu.

Funding

Nicotinic Receptor Activision and Brain Proinflammatory Responses in HIV-1 Transgenic RatR01DA044908 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · PI ROYAL, WALTER · 2017 to 2021
$1.8M
The BS/MS Program in Neuroscience at the Atlanta University ConsortiumR25NS117365 · NINDS · MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · PI BENVENISTE, MORRIS J. · 2020 to 2024
$961k
BLRD VA I01 BX003222Department of Veterans Administration I01BX003222National Institutes of Drug Abuse, NIH R01DA044908NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA044908NINDS NIH HHS R25 NS117365
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHIV-associated neurocognitive impairment (HAND) is a common complication of HIV-1 infection, which can be exacerbated by exposure to cigarette smoke (CS). Tight junction proteins (TJPs) of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) play a crucial role in maintaining BBB integrity and preventing the entry of circulating toxic factors, including those resulting from HIV-1 infection, into the central nervous system. Both CS exposure and HIV-1 infection can independently disrupt TJPs and compromise BBB integrity; however, the combined or individual effects of these factors on BBB TJPs remain poorly understood.

methodsAn in vitro BBB comprised of Sprague-Dawley rat brain microvascular endothelial cell (RBMVEC) transwell cultures was exposed to wild-type (WT) and HIV-1 transgenic (TG) rat sera, alone or in combination with cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and analyzed for trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and paracellular permeability to 10 kDa fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to assess the effects of treatment on the cellular localization and expression of the TJPs, "zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and claudin-5.

resultsPretreatment TEER measures were significantly higher for cultures treated with WT serum alone compared to those treated with TG serum or with CSE. Compared to pretreatment, TEER measures were significantly reduced by treatment with WT serum alone, CSE alone, WT serum + CSE, and TG serum + CSE. TG serum alone or TG serum + CSE resulted in statistically significant increased permeability compared to WT serum. All treatments decreased TJP staining intensity, and, in some cases, altered TJP localization. These effects were most prominent following incubation with either CSE alone, TG serum alone, or TG serum + CSE.

conclusionsCSE and TG serum induced separate and additive toxic effects on BBB function and integrity, which may underlie mechanisms that are associated with more severe HAND among HIV+ cigarette smokers.

Indexed as

Blood-Brain BarrierCigarette SmokingHIV-1HIV InfectionsSmokeAnimalsCapillary PermeabilityClaudin-5DextransElectric ImpedanceEndothelial CellsFluorescein-5-isothiocyanateHumansRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyRats, TransgenicClaudin-5Cldn5 protein, ratDextransFluorescein-5-isothiocyanatefluorescein isothiocyanate dextranSmokeTjp1 protein, ratZonula Occludens-1 ProteinBlood-brain barrierCigarette smokeHIVTransgenic rat

Identifiers

PMID41483449
PMCPMC12816102

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Registered trials

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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 OpenQuestion graph.