title: Cellular changes in the cerebellar granular layer in AIDS-associated PML.
abstract: Six cases of AIDS-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) exhibited peculiar cellular changes in the cerebellar granular layer. These cells without discernible cytoplasm showed hypochromatic nuclei about twice as large as those of normal granule cells. They were restricted exclusively to the granular layer and always surrounded PML foci. An astrocytic, leukocytic or macrophage/microglial nature was largely excluded by immunocytochemistry. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigen p 24 could not be found in these cells and there was no unequivocal detection of JC virus (JCV) DNA and no ultrastructural evidence of papovavirus particles in them. They possibly represent altered cerebellar granule cells abortively or latently infected with JCV.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Neuropathologie, Universität Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuchelmeister
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gullotta
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D002525:Cerebellar Cortex / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007577:JC Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24