title: Detection and localization of HIV RNA and TNF mRNA in rectal biopsies from patients with AIDS.
abstract: The objective of this study was to compare the localization of cells containing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA in rectal mucosa by RNA in-situ hybridization in a retrospective analysis of archived rectal biopsy specimens. RNA in-situ hybridization studies were performed in 27 HIV-seropositive individuals and seven controls, using antisense and sense 35S-labeled riboprobes. The detection and localization of positive cells were compared. HIV was RNA detected in 44% of biopsies, while TNF-alpha mRNA detected in 22%. TNF mRNA was found in biopsies from patients with and without opportunistic infections. All cells expressing TNF-alpha mRNA and most of the cells expressing HIV RNA were found in close proximity to the epithelial surface. The content of an HIV-associated protein, p24, in mucosal homogenates, determined by a quantitative ELISA technique was significantly higher in the subgroup of patients with positive in situ hybridization studies for TNF-alpha mRNA than in the subgroup with negative studies. The colocalization of TNF-alpha mRNA and HIV RNA immediately beneath the epithelium suggests a specific relationship between them, as well as a possible relationship to a luminal factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York 10025.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reka
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Kotler
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha