Carlos J. Reyes-Sepúlveda

Mentor: Yisel M. Cantres-Rosario, PhD

Affiliation: Dept. of Microbiology and Medical Zoology at UPR Medical Sciences Campus 

Project title: Characterize the role of CD4⁺ T cells in HIV neuropathogenesis and how it leads to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders 

Project Description: Even though combined anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has been successfully effective at controlling HIV replication and increasing T cell numbers, one major obstacle in eradicating HIV infection is caused by the ability of the virus to integrate DNA copies of its genome into host cells, creating latent reservoirs. These reservoirs have been a significant challenge in reducing clinical symptoms of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), since these reservoirs can infiltrate the brain and set an inflammatory response that contributes to neuronal injury and leads to neurocognitive deficits. HIV-infected macrophages and microglia play an important role in the persistent neuroinflammation and development of neuronal injury, even after ART. However, there is a vast gap of knowledge in the role of HIV⁺ CD4⁺ T cells during HAND and their response to the NeuroHIV environment. Despite their importance in fighting infections, our understanding of CD4⁺ T cell distribution in HIV-targeted CNS tissues, their response to inflammation, and potential recovery following initiation of ART remains limited. Consequently, my research intends to characterize the CD4⁺ T cell populations in NeuroHIV patients that may lead to HAND development and elucidate their contribution to neuropathology using a human brain organoid model.