FIG. 6.

Levels of MMP transcripts in human brain tissue. Total cellular RNA was extracted from frontal cortex and basal ganglia tissue obtained from three controls, five HIV-seropositive patients, and four HIVE patients. MMP-9 and -2 transcripts were detected by RT-PCR as described in Materials and Methods. Actin was used as an internal control for semiquantitative comparisons. Each sample was analyzed in duplicate determinations. Panel A illustrates three representative donors each from control, HIV-positive, and HIVE groups. Panels B and C summarize the data obtained with all patients investigated for MMP-9 and MMP-2 levels, respectively. Values represent the mean of duplicate determinations ± standard error. Statistical analysis was performed with GraphPad Prism 2.0, using one-way ANOVA with Newman-Keuls posttest. Levels of MMP-9 between HIVE and control brain tissue were significantly different (∗, P < 0.05).