Figure 8

Role of EtOH-mediated cytotoxicity and neuroinflammation in context to HAND via cPLA2 signaling in human astrocytes. EtOH and HIV-1 alone or in combination induce cPLA2 phosphorylation through MAPK pathway. Phosphorylated cPLA2 releases arachidonic acid (AA) from phospholipids. AA is metabolized by COX2 and CYP2E1 enzymes into eicosanoids such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) leading to neuroinflammation via NF-κB. We propose that cPLA2 signaling has a critical role in alcohol and HAND comorbidity.