FIG 11.

HIV-1 gp120 and Tat alter mitochondrial dynamics by decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in human primary neurons. (A to E) Live human primary neurons were stained with TMRE to label active mitochondria and with LIVE/DEAD aqua blue dead cell stain to determine the viability of cells in the presence or absence of gp120, Tat, or both. The mitochondrial uncoupler CCCP (20 μM) was used as the positive control. (B to D) Neurons treated with HIV gp120 and Tat for 24 h show a significant decrease in TMRE staining compared with the results for vehicle-treated neurons (A). (F) The accompanying graph shows the percentages of TMRE-positive cells. Student's t test was performed to test the statistical significance. Data are presented as mean values ± SD (n = 4 independent donors). *, P < 0.05; ***, P < 0.001.