HBV and HIV expression in lymph nodes of HIV positive LAS patients: histology and in situ hybridization.
The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was investigated using hybridization in 15 lymph nodes and one Kaposi's sarcoma skin lesion obtained from HIV-positive patients. Cryostat tissue sections were hybridized with chemically modified DNA probes for HBV and HIV. HIV genome was mainly observed in the cytoplasm of cells present in 7/15 lymph nodes and in the Kaposi's sarcoma skin lesion, thus indicating the expression of HIV replication. Control samples hybridized with an HTLV I probe were negative. HBV genome was found in the cytoplasm of lymphoid mononuclear cells in 2/7 lymph nodes, obtained from HIV+ patients without serum markers of ongoing HBV infection. Lymph node positivity for HBV DNA also confirms that lymphoid cells may be a target for HBV. Since HBV infection seems to precede HIV infection in nearly all patients, it is possible that it may represent a factor facilitating the development of the HIV-related disease.
Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
M
M
Pezzella
F
F
Pezzella
M
M
Rapicetta
G
G
Morace
B
B
Macchi
F
F
Sorice
C D
CD
Baroni
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D015342:DNA Probes; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000235:genetics*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization
D015342:DNA Probes; D004279:DNA, Viral