It has been suggested that gp120, the viral protein primarily studied in relation to HIV-SN, plays an important role in the early stages of HIV-SN.61 In rodent models of gp120-induced neuropathy, nerve fibre loss is measurable after 14 days of gp120 exposure.70,71 The delayed loss of epidermal nerve fibres shown here might indicate a role of Tat in the maintenance of HIV-SN at later stages of the HIV infection. The gene discussed is ITIH4; the disease is neuropathy.