title: Possible role of HHV-6 in the development of AIDS retinitis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Virology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030-3498.
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Qavi
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ablashi
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015488:HIV Antigens