Identification and quantitation of HIV-1 in the liver of patients with AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
To detect and quantify HIV-1 in the liver in vivo.


METHODS
Fourteen liver biopsy samples and corresponding blood lymphocytes and monocytes from patients with AIDS were studied for HIV-1 using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, expression of HIV-1 antigen and messenger (m) RNA in 10 autopsy liver specimens was examined by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.


RESULTS
The amount of HIV-1 DNA in nine liver samples ranged from 850 to 27,000 copies per 10(6) cells, with mean and median values of 8150 and 3500 copies per 10(6) cells, respectively. Five other samples had no detectable HIV-1 DNA by PCR. Intracellular expression of HIV-1 antigen and mRNA was also detected in both Kupffer cells and hepatocytes by in situ studies.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings strongly indicate that HIV-1 could replicate in the liver of a majority of patients with AIDS.
Cao
Y Z
YZ
Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, New York, New York.
Dieterich
D
D
Thomas
P A
PA
Huang
Y X
YX
Mirabile
M
M
Ho
D D
DD
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000382:microbiology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens