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Brain viral burden in HIV infection
C L Achim1, R Wang, D K Miners
1Department of Pathology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla.
Summary
This study quantitated brain viral load in AIDS patients, finding Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) DNA in most cases. Viral proteins and DNA were most concentrated in deep gray matter regions of the central nervous system (CNS).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Virology
- Pathology
Background:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients often experience central nervous system (CNS) complications due to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection.
- Understanding the extent and distribution of viral burden in the brain is crucial for managing HIV encephalitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitate the brain viral burden in autopsy material from AIDS patients.
- To compare the efficacy of different detection methods for HIV in CNS samples.
- To investigate the distribution of HIV and other viral infections within the brain.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of central nervous system (CNS) samples from 45 AIDS autopsies using immunocytochemistry (ICC), antigen capture assay (ACA), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
- Samples were selected based on minimal postmortem autolysis and absence of non-viral opportunistic infections.
- Detection of HIV DNA, gp41, p24, cytomegalovirus, and human herpes virus-6.
Main Results:
- HIV DNA was detected by PCR in approximately 75% of cases.
- HIV proteins and DNA were most abundant in deep gray matter regions.
- Cytomegalovirus was detected in over 50% of cases, while human herpes virus-6 was rarely detected.
Conclusions:
- HIV infection of the CNS is prevalent in the majority of AIDS autopsies.
- The quantity and distribution of HIV in the brain vary significantly between cases and anatomical regions.
- The utilized detection methods (ICC, ACA, PCR) can be employed to assess HIV burden across different laboratories.