[Immunohistochemical evidence for HIV-1 infection in the liver of HIV-infected patients].
OBJECTIVE
To detect p24 antigen of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 in the liver biopsy specimens of patients with HIV infection.


METHODS
Liver biopsy samples from 14 patients with HIV/AIDS (11 man, 3 women; age range 27-52 years; infection time range 8-13 years) were examined by immunohistochemistry prospectively.


RESULTS
Intracellular expression of HIV-1 p24 antigen was detected in Kupffer cells, endothelial cells and hepatocytes. There were more HIV-positive liver cells in the patients with severer liver damage than those with milder liver damage (t=2.5189, P=0.0270).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that HIV-1 could replicate in the liver of HIV-infected patients and might be related to the liver cells apoptosis.
Jiang
Tian-jun
TJ
The No. 302 Hospital of The People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100039, China. med6677@yahoo.com.cn
Zhao
Min
M
Zhao
Jing-min
JM
Zhou
Guang-de
GD
Pan
Deng
D
Wang
Jian
J
Zhang
Yun-hui
YH
Zhou
Zhi-ping
ZP
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D016655:HIV Core Protein p24