Infection of brain pericytes with HIV-1 in vitro remodels the cytoskeleton, increases the expression of adhesion proteins (including intercellular adhesion molecule-1, ICAM-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, VCAM-1) and of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6, and reduces the production of extracellular matrix proteins (e.g. fibronectin and nidogen) [31, 32]. This evidence concerns the gene VCAM1 and infection.