Possible role of HHV-6 in the development of AIDS retinitis.
Majority of AIDS patients experience visual loss due to AIDS-associated retinitis or commonly known as CMV retinitis. It has been reported that CMV infection of the retina is a late manifestation of AIDS and a poor prognostic sign. The etiology and mechanism(s) involved in the development of AIDS-associated retinitis is currently unknown. It is of critical importance to understand the pathobiology of this disease process in order to develop a rational approach to therapeutic intervention. We have determined the frequency and proximity of simultaneous occurrence of HIV-1 and HHV-6 in retinal tissues of AIDS patients in the absence of CMV infection. Active infection of HIV-1 has been identified in the retinal tissues of 30-60% of AIDS patients analyzed. HHV-6 antigens and transcripts were detectable in about 50% of HIV-1 positive retinas. Most significant finding of our studies is the presence of HIV-1 and HHV-6 antigens and transcriptional activity in retinal tissue in the absence of CMV infection. These observations suggest that HIV-1 in association with HHV-6 may predispose certain retinal cells to other opportunistic agents such as CMV in late stages of AIDS-associated retinitis.
Qavi
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HB
Division of Molecular Virology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030-3498.
Green
M T
MT
Pearson
G
G
Ablashi
D
D
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000276:immunology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000821:virology; D012160:Retina / Q000821:virology; D012173:Retinitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015488:HIV Antigens