title: Curvilinear membranous formations in lymph node cells of an African AIDS patient with tuberculosis.
abstract: Tissue from an extirpated cervical lymph node of an African AIDS patient with tuberculosis was investigated with the electron microscope. A peculiar cytoplasmic structure was found in histiocytic cells of the lymph node tissue. This structure consisted of a loose aggregation of convoluted, folded curvilinear membranes, demonstrating C-shaped, U-shaped, and S-shaped profiles according to the plane of section. These curvilinear membranous formations (CMF) were formed by 2 parallel-running unit membranes separated by a narrow electron-lucent space. Continuities of CMF with rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum were sometimes observed. Occasionally, an electron-dense, blurred cytoplasmic area was seen between 2 neighboring CMF. Several CMF also formed a seastar-like configuration by mergence in such an area. It is unknown whether the HIV infection of the patient was the primary cause of the CMF.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Virology, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Horst
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Marquart
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D018870:Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009333:Neck; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*