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Role of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in HIV-associated dementia
Brabers NA, Nottet HS.. European journal of clinical investigation, 2006-07-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1)-infected and immune-activated macrophages and microglia secrete neurotoxins. Two of these neurotoxins are the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), which are thought to play a major role in inducing neuronal death. Both TNF-alpha and IL-1beta increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, through which subsequently HIV-infected monocytes can enter the brain.
Key findings
- Two of these neurotoxins are the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), which are thought to play a major role in inducing neuronal death.
- Both TNF-alpha and IL-1beta increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, through which subsequently HIV-infected monocytes can enter the brain.
- They both induce over-stimulation of the NMDA-receptor via several pathways, resulting in a lethal neuronal increase in Ca(2+) levels.
- Additionally, TNF-alpha co-operates with several other proinflammatory mediators to enhance their toxic effects.
Why it matters
This work concerns HIV-associated dementia and the role of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in neuronal death, not Alzheimer's disease. It provides no treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (European journal of clinical investigation) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | European Journal of Clinical Investigation: journal h-index 166 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2006 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 266 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 12.1 citations a year over 22 year(s) since 2006 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 26 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Hans S.L.M. Nottet: h-index 32 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University Medical Center Utrecht: institution h-index 1,076 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16796601) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Brabers, N. A., & Nottet, H. S. (2006). Role of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in HIV-associated dementia. European journal of clinical investigation. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2362.2006.01657.x
Vancouver
Brabers NA, Nottet HS. Role of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in HIV-associated dementia. European journal of clinical investigation. 2006. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2362.2006.01657.x. PMID: 16796601.
BibTeX
@article{brabers2006-16796601,
author = {Brabers, N. A. and Nottet, H. S.},
title = {{Role of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in HIV-associated dementia}},
journal = {European journal of clinical investigation},
year = {2006},
doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2362.2006.01657.x},
pmid = {16796601},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2362.2006.01657.x}
}
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