AEGiS-14IAC: HIV producing cells are found in bone marrow of infected patients.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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HIV producing cells are found in bone marrow of infected patients.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. A10044)

Waase I, Trabert SC, Tenner-Racz K, Racz P, Manegold C, Dietrich M
Tropical Institute, 20359 Hamburg, Germany

BACKGROUND: The bone marrow is not a major reservoir of the HI-virus, as previously established. However, morphology as well as cell-production of bone marrow are affected frequently in HIV-infected patients. One undisclosed feature are cell aggregates, which are not to be distinguished morphologically. To investigate bone marrow pathology in HIV, we analysed bone marrow aspirates with regard to cell distribution and HIV production.

METHODS: Bone marrow aspirates were washed with sterile PBS to clear from peripheral blood cells, and formalin-fixed. 2 é m sections of the paraffin-embedded bone marrow from 11 patients and 2 control patients were studied by HIV in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry. 9 patients had viral loads between 13.000 and more than 750.000 particles/ml in the peripheral blood. Only 4 patients received antiretroviral therapy at the time of aspiration.

RESULTS: HIV production could be demonstrated in bone marrow of 6 out of 11 cases (54%). No HIV producing cells were found in patients with undetectable viral load in the peripheral blood. 1 patient showed HIV production before, but no production after the initiation of HAART. HIV producing cells were found preferentially in aggregates of mainly CD3-positive lymphocytes. Proportion of lymphocytes varied between 9 and 21%. Most of the T-lymphocytes were CD8 positive lymphocytes. Further analysis included CD4, CD20 (B-cells), CD41 (megakaryocytes), CD68 (macrophages, monocytes) and Glycophorin A (erythroid precursors).

CONCLUSION: HIV-producing cells are present in bone marrow of infected patients adjacent or surrounded by T-lymphocyte aggregates

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV, HIV Infections, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, HIV Seropositivity, Viral Load, Bone Marrow, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Anti-HIV Agents, HIV Protease Inhibitors, T-Lymphocytes, Lymphocytes, HIV Antigens, HIV Envelope Protein gp120, Human, immunology

020707
A10044

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.