Detection of HIV in haemopoietic progenitors.
Peripheral blood cytopenias present a major problem in the management of patients with HIV infection. Their pathophysiology is likely to be multifactorial, although there is controversy as to whether haemopoietic progenitors are a target for HIV. In order to investigate the haemopoietic defect in HIV infection, we looked at bone marrow culture characteristics of marrow from eight HIV+ patients compared to normal controls. We performed long-term liquid culture (LTC) and colony forming assays for granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and granulocyte, erythroid, megakaryocyte, macrophage (CFU-GEMM). In LTC we found normal stromal appearance and haemopoietic focus formation. There was no difference in colony assays of CFU-GM and CFU-GEMM between HIV+ and normal controls. Colonies taken from CFU-GM and CFU-GEMM were analysed for HIV DNA sequences, and we were able to detect HIV DNA in colonies from all HIV+ patients. Our results indicate that despite infection of haemopoietic progenitor cells by HIV, bone marrow function is preserved. This suggests that HIV-related cytopenias may be due to alternative mechanisms not present in our in vitro system.
Kaczmarski
R S
RS
Department of Haematological Medicine, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, Denmark Hill, London.
Davison
F
F
Blair
E
E
Sutherland
S
S
Moxham
J
J
McManus
T
T
Mufti
G J
GJ
D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors
D004279:DNA, Viral