In this study, we have demonstrated that HIV-infected human astrocytoma U87-CD4-CCR5 cells microinjected into the mouse brain, form GJs with resident mouse brain cells, and the apoptotic factors generated in these HIV-infected cells diffuse into uninfected host cells via Cx43 GJs, and lead to their apoptosis. The gene discussed is GJA1; the disease is astrocytoma (excluding glioblastoma).