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Published on: January 5, 2016
Proliferation of HIV in lymphocyte--associated macrophages with cytopathic changes in AIDS erythroderma
M C Heng1, M Lambertus, M B Goetz
1Division of Dermatology, UCLA-San Fernando Valley International Medicine Program, VA Medical Center, Sepulveda 91343.
Insights
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) replication was observed in macrophages interacting with activated T-lymphocytes in vivo. This interaction promoted viral proliferation and cell damage, offering new insights into HIV pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Pathology
Background:
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) establishes latency in T-lymphocytes and macrophage/monocyte cells.
- In vitro studies show HIV replication amplification in lymphocytes and macrophages upon mitogen stimulation.
- In vivo evidence for this phenomenon has been limited.
Observation:
- Skin biopsies from an Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patient with chronic erythroderma were analyzed using electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry.
- Macrophages interacting with activated CD3+ lymphocytes exhibited morphologic changes indicative of cytopathicity.
- Numerous HIV particles were observed within these macrophages, with active budding from plasma membranes.
Findings:
- In vivo proliferation of HIV was demonstrated in macrophages actively interacting with lymphocytes.
- Macrophages not interacting with lymphocytes showed no signs of cytopathicity or viral multiplication.
- Activated lymphocytes appear to promote HIV replication and cytopathicity in macrophages.
Implications:
- These findings provide in vivo evidence that cellular activation promotes HIV replication in latently infected cells.
- The interaction between activated lymphocytes and macrophages is crucial for driving HIV pathogenesis.
- Understanding this interaction may lead to novel therapeutic strategies targeting HIV replication in vivo.
Abstract:
Latency of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been demonstrated in both helper T-Lymphocytes and cells of the macrophage/monocyte series. Although mitogen-dependent amplification of HIV infection within lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages has been demonstrated to occur in vitro, in vivo evidence of such a phenomenon has been lacking. We have performed electron microscopic and immunocytochemical evaluation of skin biopsies from a patient with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) with chronic erythroderma. These biopsies provided evidence of proliferation of HIV in macrophages interacting with activated lymphocytes (CD3+). These macrophages were undergoing morphologic changes characteristic of cytopathicity and contained numerous viral particles, many of which were actively budding from plasma membranes. Cutaneous macrophages which were not interacting with lymphocytes did not demonstrate cytopathicity or evidence of viral multiplication. These in vivo data substantiate the concept that activation of cells which harbour latent HIV promotes viral replication as well as subsequent cytopathicity.
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