Transepithelial transport of HIV-1 by intestinal M cells: a mechanism for transmission of AIDS.
This study was designed to determine whether human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) might enter the host by penetrating epithelial barriers through antigen-transporting M cells in lymphoid follicle-associated epithelia. Interaction of HIV-1 with epithelial cells was examined using mucosal explants from Peyer's patches of mice and rabbits. HIV-1 adhered to the luminal membranes of M cells of both species, and was endocytosed and delivered to intraepithelial spaces containing lymphocytes and macrophages. These observations suggest that M cells, which are numerous in the human rectal mucosa, may efficiently deliver HIV-1 to target cells in mucosal lymphoid tissue, and that such transport may contribute to sexual transmission of AIDS.
Amerongen
H M
HM
Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Weltzin
R
R
Farnet
C M
CM
Michetti
P
P
Haseltine
W A
WA
Neutra
M R
MR
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission*; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002450:Cell Communication; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits