Heterogeneity of macrophage and T cell subpopulations in peripheral nerves from HIV infected individuals: A preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the heterogeneity of surface marker expression of macrophages in peripheral nerve of patients who died with AIDS.


BACKGROUND
Peripheral neuropathy occurs in 20%-40% of AIDS patients. There is evidence that activated macrophages may be involved in the neural damage associated with HIV-1 infection. We studied the expression of macrophage surface markers CD14, CD11c, CD68, and HLA-DR and also T cell surface markers CD3, CD4, and CD8 in peripheral nerves of AIDS patients.


METHODS
Three levels of peripheral nerves (sciatic, tibial, or sural) were examined from a limited number of subjects consisting of 4 HIV-seropositive and 5 HIV-seronegative individuals. Standard immunohistochemical technique utilized alkaline phosphatase conjugate and fuchsin substrate.


RESULTS
Surface antigen expression was significantly (p < .0025 increased in HIV-positive tissues compared with HIV-negative controls for CD14 and CD4 in sciatic nerves, CD68 and CD4 in tibial nerves, and CD68 in sural nerves. There were trends for increased expression of HLA-DR, CD3, and CD8 in sciatic nerves, CD11c and CD14 in tibial nerves, and CD14, HLA-DR, and CD4 in sural nerves in HIV-positive tissues compared with HIV-negative controls.


CONCLUSIONS
During the course of AIDS there may be an involvement of all three levels of peripheral nerves suggesting that HIV-related neuropathy is a multifocal process.
Delgado
S
S
New Jersey City Hospital, Jersey City, NJ, USA.
Shapshak
P
P
Stewart
R
R
de la Vega
P R
PR
Sun
N C
NC
Benjamin
S
S
Petito
C
C
Bradley
W
W
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D001344:Autopsy; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D018925:Chemokines / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000473:pathology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018925:Chemokines