Ultrastructural and immunoelectron microscopic studies of cells with abnormal cytoplasmic inclusions in patients with...

Nineteen specimens of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or biopsies of lymph nodes from patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were investigated ultrastructurally and by immunoelectron microscopy. Two main ultrastructural cytoplasmic inclusions were present in lymphoreticular cells: cylindrical confronting lamellae (CCL) and tubuloreticular inclusions (TRI). Furthermore their close ultrastructural association in the same cell was demonstrated for the first time. The percentage of PBMC sections bearing CCL was lower than the percentage of sections with TRI, except for one case of prodromal lymphadenopathy with risk factors for AIDS. The types of PBMC bearing inclusions were identified as T cells by immunoelectron microscopy. A relationship between the presence of TRI and plasma interferon levels is known but other unknown factor(s) are evidently involved in the morphogenesis of CCL.