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The intestinal and rectal epithelial lymphocyte in AIDS. An electron-microscopic study
The American Journal of Surgical Pathology
|September 1, 1986
Summary
Intraepithelial lymphocytes in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) show signs of activation and increased granules. These activated lymphocytes may contribute to gastrointestinal immune injury in AIDS patients.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) play a role in gastrointestinal tract immunity.
- Gastrointestinal immune injury is reported in some patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the morphological characteristics of IELs in patients with AIDS.
- To compare IELs in AIDS patients with those in normal individuals and patients with celiac sprue.
Main Methods:
- Electron microscopy was used to examine IELs from 11 AIDS patients and controls.
- Morphological features, including organelles and lysosomal granules, were quantified.
Main Results:
- AIDS IELs exhibited more organelles and appeared activated compared to normal IELs.
- AIDS IELs had significantly more lysosomal granules (3.3/cell) than normal IELs (1.0/cell).
- A higher percentage of AIDS IELs (34%) showed activation markers compared to normal (2%) and sprue (23%) IELs.
Conclusions:
- Activated IELs with prominent lysosomes in AIDS patients may act as cytotoxic effectors.
- These findings suggest a potential role for IELs in gastrointestinal immune injury in AIDS.
- Increased intestinal IELs were observed in AIDS, but not rectal tissue.
