Work

Cellular localization of human immunodeficiency virus infection within the brains of acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients.

Year: 1986

Type: article

Abstract: Dysfunction of the central nervous system (CNS) is a prominent feature of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Many of these patients have a subacute encephalitis consistent with a viral infection of the CNS. We studied the brains of 12 AIDS patients using in situ hybridization to identify human immunodeficiency virus [HIV, referred to by others as human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III), lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV), AIDS-associated retrovirus (ARV)] nucleic acid sequences and immunocytochemistry to identify viral and cellular proteins. Nine patients had significant HIV infection in the CNS. In all examined brains, the white matter was more severely involved than the grey matter. In most cases the infection was restricted to capillary endothelial cells, mononuclear inflammatory cells, and giant cells. In a single case with severe CNS involvement, a low-level infection was seen in some astrocytes and neurons. These results suggest that CNS dysfunction is due to indirect effects rather than neuronal or glial infection.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.83.18.7089

Authors: C A Wiley, R D Schrier, J A Nelson, P W Lampert, M B Oldstone

Institutions: University of California San Diego, Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute

Language: English

Topic: HIV Research and Treatment

Subfield: Virology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke