CASP3 and Hyperglycemia: To determine whether HIV-1 Nef and hyperglycemic conditions induced apoptosis, intracellular activity of caspase -3 was analyzed in primary astrocytes exposed to HIV-1 Nef particles, via Western blot and the results are depicted in Figure 5 panel A and B. The figure illustrates the impact of hyperglycemia and Nef on mice brain (in vivo) and in vitro on U87-MG astrocytes respectively.