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Macrophage enhances Neuronal Excitability: Implications for HIV‐1‐associated Neuronal Dysfunction.

Macrophages have been proposed to play an active role in HIV‐associated neuropathology and other neurodegenerative disorders. We hypothesize that macrophages alter neuronal excitability in HIV‐1‐infected brain and this alteration causes neuronal dysfunction. To test this hypothesis, we studied the influence of human monocyte‐derived macrophages (MDMs) and LPS stimulated MDMs(LPS‐MDMs)on rat cortical neuronal physiology in MDM and LPS‐MDMs‐neuronal co‐cultures using whole‐cell patch clamp techniques. When co‐cultured with neurons, LPS‐MDMs significantly increased spontaneous spikes in comparison with controls. Spike firing in response to constant current depolarizing injection, AP after hyperpolarization were significantly enhanced by LPS‐ MDMs. In addition, LPS‐MDMs decreased duration of APs and latency to spike firing. These results demonstrate that LPS‐MDMs, when co‐cultured with neuronal cells, alter neuronal passive membrane properties and enhance neuronal excitability. These alterations on neuronal physiology may result in neuronal dysfunction or injury as seen in HIV‐1‐infected brain.