HIV mediates a productive infection of the brain

TitleHIV mediates a productive infection of the brain
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1999
AuthorsWiley, CA, Achim, C, Christopherson, C, Kidane, Y, Kwok, S, Masliah, E, Mellors, J, Radhakrishnan, L, Wang, G, Soontornniyomkij, V
JournalAIDS (London, England)
Volume13
Issue15
Pagination2055-2059
Date Published10/1999
KeywordsDNA, External, Proviruses, RNA, Viral
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Approximately one quarter of patients with AIDS develop severe cognitive deficits called HIV-associated dementia complex. There is some controversy regarding the importance of viral load and distribution in mediating this neurologic disease. OBJECTIVE: Brain HIV proviral and RNA loads were compared to define the molecular nature of HIV infection of the brain. METHOD: Neuropathologic examination was performed on brains from 10 autopsies of patients with AIDS that had short post-mortem intervals and no evidence of opportunistic infection. Viral DNA and RNA were extracted and quantified from multiple brain regions. These findings were compared with triple-label immunofluorescence for viral and cell markers. RESULTS: Brains with histopathologic evidence of HIV encephalitis contained abundant HIV RNA and DNA. Regions without productive HIV infection showed minimal proviral load. By immunocytochemistry, only brain macrophages/microglia double labeled for viral proteins. CONCLUSIONS: HIV mediates a productive infection of brain macrophages/microglia. There was no evidence supporting the hypothesis of substantial neuronal or macroglial infection, or evidence of substantial proviral burden prior to the development of productive infection.

URLhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10546857