In vitro studies of HIV-1 infection in thymic lymphocytes: a putative role of the thymus in AIDS pathogenesis.
To ascertain whether thymic lymphocytes represent suitable targets for HIV-1 infection, we infected thymic cell suspensions from normal donors with HIV-1 (HTLV-IIIB strain). We found that, in vitro, thymic lymphocytes are readily infected and highly permissive for HIV-1 replication. In addition, immature cells with the CD4+/CD8+ phenotype, most likely the precursors of mature circulating CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, showed a marked susceptibility to viral infection and replication. These findings suggest that thymus infection may play a triggering role in the pathogenesis of AIDS, particularly in pediatric cases, and may partially explain the lack of restoration of peripheral CD4+ lymphocytes killed by HIV-1.
Institute of Oncology, University of Padova, Italy.
A
A
De Rossi
M L
ML
Calabro
M
M
Panozzo
D
D
Bernardi
B
B
Caruso
G
G
Tridente
L
L
Chieco-Bianchi
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000382:microbiology*
D018949:Antigens, CD1; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase