Corbellino M, Galli M, Parravicini C, Balotta C, Moroni M, Gallo RC, Lusso P; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1992 Jul 19-24; 8: A28 (abstract no. PoA 2153).
Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD.
OBJECTIVES. To assess the role of Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) in the natural history of HIV-1 infection, we investigated the tissue distribution of this virus in AIDS patients and in HIV-1 seronegative controls. METHODS. Necropsy tissues from 3 patients decreased of AIDS and 2 HIV-1 seronegative controls were collected and immediately frozen. After individual homogenization with disposable instruments, DNA was extracted by Phenol-Chloroform, each set of DNA extraction harboring internal negative controls (uninfected cell lines). HHV-6 DNA was sought for by PCR using 2 sets of nested primers, each amplifying distant and unrelated regions of the viral genome. Several internal negative controls were included into each turn of amplification. PCR products were visualized by Ethidium Bromide staining after Agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS. In both HIV-1 seronegative subjects, HHV-6 was consistently detected in selected tissues, e.g., Tonsils, Kidney, Bone Marrow, Submandibular Glands, Bronchial Epithelium and Myocardium likely representing the main sites for HHV-6 latency/persistence in immunocompetent individuals. By contrast, the patients who died of AIDS exhibited an almost generalized presence of HHV-6 throughout the organism. In addition to the organs mentioned above, the following tissues were positive in at least one AIDS patient: Cerebellum, Brain Stem, Spinal Cord, Paravertebral Ganglia, Abdominal, Cervical, Mediastinal and Thoracic Lymph Nodes, Skeletal Muscles, Adrenal Glands, Liver, Pancreas and Oesophagus. CONCLUSIONS. These data indicate that widespread HHV-6 infection occurs in terminal AIDS patients. Whether HHV-6 is reactivated as consequence of the profound immunosuppression or plays a direct role in the disease progression toward AIDS, remains to be ascertained. Studies are underway to determine if the presence of HHV-6 in AIDS patients is specifically related to the Type-A or Type-B subtypes.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- HIV Infections
- HIV-1
- Herpesvirus 6, Human
- Humans
- Lymph Nodes
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
Other ID:
UI: 102198155
From Meeting Abstracts