Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Sequencing of Bacterial Microflora in Peripheral Blood: our Experience with HIV-infected Patients
13:50

Sequencing of Bacterial Microflora in Peripheral Blood: our Experience with HIV-infected Patients

Published on: June 11, 2011

Increased polymorphonuclear leucocyte rigidity in HIV infected individuals

A Tufail1, G N Holland, T C Fisher

  • 1UCLA Ocular Inflammatory Disease Center, the Jules Stein Eye Institute, and the Department of Ophthalmology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

The British Journal of Ophthalmology
|June 30, 2000
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection increases polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) rigidity, potentially contributing to HIV-related microvasculopathy. This increased rigidity is linked to immune dysfunction severity and CMV retinitis.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Hematology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with various complications affecting blood flow.
  • Polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) play a crucial role in immune response and microvascular integrity.
  • Altered PMN function may contribute to the pathogenesis of HIV-related conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) rigidity in individuals with HIV infection.
  • To determine if PMN rigidity is associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in HIV-infected individuals.
  • To explore the relationship between PMN rigidity, immune status (CD4+ T lymphocyte count), and HIV-related microvasculopathy.

Main Methods:

  • Measured PMN rigidity using cell transit time through 8-micrometer pores in a cell transit analyser.
  • Compared PMN transit times between HIV-infected individuals (with and without CMV retinitis) and HIV-negative controls.
  • Analyzed correlations between PMN transit times, CD4+ T lymphocyte counts, and clinical parameters.

Main Results:

  • PMNs from HIV-infected individuals exhibited significantly longer transit times, indicating increased rigidity, compared to controls (p<0.001).
  • PMNs from HIV-infected individuals with CMV retinitis showed greater rigidity than those without CMV retinitis (p<0.001).
  • Increased PMN rigidity was significantly correlated with lower CD4+ T lymphocyte counts (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

  • HIV infection is associated with increased PMN rigidity, a potential factor in HIV-related retinal microvasculopathy.
  • PMN rigidity severity correlates with the degree of immune dysfunction in HIV-infected individuals.
  • Elevated PMN rigidity may persist in patients with CMV retinitis even after effective antiretroviral therapy improves CD4+ counts.

More Related Videos

An In Vitro Model for Measuring Immune Responses to Malaria in the Context of HIV Co-infection08:14

An In Vitro Model for Measuring Immune Responses to Malaria in the Context of HIV Co-infection

Published on: October 6, 2015

Isolation, Transfection, and Culture of Primary Human Monocytes09:13

Isolation, Transfection, and Culture of Primary Human Monocytes

Published on: December 16, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction01:23

Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction

Rheumatic heart disease or RHD is a chronic condition that results from rheumatic fever, causing permanent damage to the heart valves.Etiology and Risk FactorsIt primarily arises from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can develop after untreated or inadequately treated group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. Streptococcus spreads through direct contact with oral or respiratory secretions. While the bacteria are the causative agents, factors like malnutrition, overcrowding, poor...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly01:19

Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly

As part of their replication cycle, certain viruses synthesize long precursor proteins called polyproteins within infected host cells. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), two major polyproteins are produced: Gag and Gag-Pol. The Gag polyprotein supplies the structural components of the virus, while Gag-Pol includes essential viral enzymes such as reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease. After synthesis, these polyproteins move to the host cell membrane, where they assemble into an...