Methamphetamine potentiates HIV-1gp120-induced microglial neurotoxic activity by enhancing microglial outward K current.

Methamphetamine (Meth) abuse not only increases the risk of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection, but exacerbates HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) as well. The mechanisms underlying the co-morbid effect are not fully understood. Meth and HIV-1 each alone interacts with microglia and microglia express voltage-gated potassium (K) channel K1.3. To understand whether K1.3 functions an intersecting point for Meth and HIV-1, we studied the augment effect of Meth on HIV-1 glycoprotein 120 (gp120)-induced neurotoxic activity in cultured rat microglial cells. While Meth and gp120 each alone at low (subtoxic) concentrations failed to trigger microglial neurotoxic activity, Meth potentiated gp120-induced microglial neurotoxicity when applied in combination. Meth enhances gp120 effect on microglia by enhancing microglial K1.3 protein expression and K1.3 current, leading to an increase of neurotoxin production and resultant neuronal injury. Pretreatment of microglia with a specific K1.3 antagonist 5-(4-Phenoxybutoxy)psoralen (PAP) or a broad spectrum K channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) significantly attenuated Meth/gp120-treated microglial production of neurotoxins and resultant neuronal injury, indicating an involvement of K1.3 in Meth/gp120-induced microglial neurotoxic activity. Meth/gp120 activated caspase-3 and increased caspase-3/7 activity in microglia and inhibition of caspase-3 by its specific inhibitor significantly decreased microglial production of TNF-α and iNOS and attenuated microglia-associated neurotoxic activity. Moreover, blockage of K1.3 by specific blockers attenuated Meth/gp120 enhancement of caspase-3/7 activity. Taking together, these results suggest an involvement of microglial K1.3 in the mediation of Meth/gp120 co-morbid effect on microglial neurotoxic activity via caspase-3 signaling.