Figure 7.

HIV infection opens Cx-containing hemichannels (HCs) in human brain pericytes. BBB pericytes were occludin depleted, infected, and/or exposed to CBX as in Figure 6. ATP levels in cell culture media were assessed by ELISA. Analyses were performed at 24 h or 48 h post-infection. A significant increase in extracellular ATP levels was observed at 48 h post-infection in WT or occludin-depleted pericytes (1.6- or 2.4-fold, respectively) compared with the basal level in NI cells. Extracellular ATP was drastically reduced by additional treatment with CBX (25 μM). Data represents mean ± SEM (n = 8 from three independent experiments). *p < 0.05 vs. WT; ^#p < 0.05 vs. no CBX for each treatment.