Zaltman C, Madi K, Takiya C, Fonseca ME, Belo M, Trajman A, Elia C; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1992 Jul 19-24; 8: 148 (abstract no. PuB 7594).
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the morphological aspects of the jejunal plasma cells in HIV disease. METHODS: Peroral jejunal biopsy was performed in twenty HIV+ subjects (6 at stage II and 14 at stage IV) and five healthy volunteers. None of them was taking AZT or immunosuppressors. The mucosa obtained was processed for optic and electronic microscope examination. We distinguished young and mature plasma cells considering the chromatin and the position of the nucleus and the cytoplasmic cisternae arrangement. Viral particles were searched for. RESULTS: No ultrastructure abnormalities of plasma cells were demonstrated. Young and mature plasma cells were present in all controls. Mature plasma cells were not detected in 6 patients (5 at stage IV). In one asymptomatic patient, HIV-like particles were found in cytosol, near the rough endoplasmic reticulum of a preserved young plasma cell. CONCLUSIONS: Although a reduction of intestinal immunoglobulin-containing plasma cells has been reported in HIV disease, we did not observe evidence of morphological cell injury. Nevertheless, we note that 30% of the HIV+ patients had only young cells in the mucosa. In addition, cellular structure is not altered by the presence of the viral particles, suggesting that plasma cells can be a reservoir of the virus. The HIV tropism for CD4 molecules is well known. Five to ten percent of B-cells express CD4, and plasma cells could theoretically be infected by the HIV, but this had not been previously demonstrated.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- AIDS Vaccines
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Animals
- Antigens, CD4
- B-Lymphocytes
- Biomedical Research
- HIV
- HIV Antibodies
- HIV Antigens
- HIV Core Protein p24
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Intestines
- Plasma Cells
- Zidovudine
- immunology
Other ID:
UI: 102201382
From Meeting Abstracts