How HIV Tat, cocaine, and HIV medicines trigger inflammation in brain immune cells
Molecular interplay of HIV Tat, cocaine, and cART in microglial pyroptosis: Role of NLRP3 inflammasome
Researchers are looking at how a piece of the HIV virus (Tat), cocaine use, and antiretroviral drugs together cause inflammatory damage in brain immune cells in adults with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321633 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you live with HIV and worry about thinking or memory problems, this work focuses on the brain’s immune cells (microglia and astrocytes) that drive ongoing inflammation. Scientists will use laboratory models and human-relevant cells to study how the HIV protein Tat, cocaine exposure, and combination antiretroviral therapy interact to turn on the NLRP3 inflammasome and trigger pyroptosis, a fiery form of cell death. The team will measure inflammatory signals like IL-1β and IL-18 and test molecular steps that could be blocked to reduce damage. The goal is to find points where new treatments might protect brain cells and slow NeuroHIV-related decline.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV—particularly those on antiretroviral therapy and/or with a history of cocaine use—would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People without HIV, children or adolescents under 21, and those not exposed to cART or cocaine are unlikely to benefit directly from the findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to reduce brain inflammation and protect thinking and memory in people living with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis to NeuroHIV and substance use, but the combined effects of Tat, cocaine, and cART together are largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Omaha, United States
- University of Nebraska Medical Center — Omaha, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Buch, Shilpa J — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Buch, Shilpa J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.