Significant increases in transcription of RAC1 and CTTN were observed only in brain tissues of HIV-infected individuals, compared to brain tissues of seronegative controls, or infected patients with advanced neurological complications (HIVE), suggesting that HIV-induced transcriptional regulation of RAC1 and CTTN occurs early in the course of viral infection, which likely coincides with BBB breach and increased trafficking of MPs into the CNS. Here, CTTN is linked to viral infectious disease.