EcoHIV infection induces BBB permeability in mice.

<p><b>(A)</b> Plasma concentrations of p24 in wild-type C57BL/6 (WT) mice were measured via ELISA three weeks post-infection (uninfected: n = 6, infected: n = 6). <b>(B)</b> EcoHIV viral load in plasma from WT mice was quantitated 1 month and 2 months post-infection (mpi) by PCR and the results were shown as the number of viral copies/mL (n = 6/time point). <b>(C)</b> WT mice were infected with EcoHIV for two months, and the fluorescent tracer, sodium fluorescein (NaF), was then used to assess BBB permeability. EcoHIV significantly increased BBB permeability as compared to uninfected animals (uninfected: n = 5; infected: n = 6). The values are presented as fold increase in the ratio of brain versus plasma concentrations of NaF. (<b>D)</b> WT mice were left uninfected or infected with EcoHIV (uninfected and infected: n = 4/time point). BBB permeability was analyzed at the indicated time points (weeks post infection, wpi) via NaF exclusion.