Endothelial adhesion molecule expression is unaltered in the peripheral nerve from patients with AIDS and distal sensory polyneuropathy.
Some evidence suggests that endothelial dysfunction, including altered expression of cell adhesion molecules contributes to pathophysiology of nervous system disorders in the course of HIV infection. In this immunohistochemical study we investigated and compared the expression of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) in peripheral nerve blood vessels from patients with distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSP) and control patients with other axonal neuropathies. Similar quantitative pattern of immunoreactivity was found in patients with DSP and controls. E-selectin and PECAM-1 immunostained vessels tended to increase in number only in patients with major CD4 cell depletion. The vascular endothelium of the peripheral nerve in HIV-infected subjects with DSP shows no changes facilitating the migration of infected or activated monocytes/macrophages into the nerve. These phenomena probably do not play a critical role in the development of axonal damage in DSP.
Fenzi
Flavio
F
Department of Neurological and Visual Sciences, Section of Neurology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. flavio.fenzi@univr.it
Rossi
Francesca
F
Rava
Marta
M
Cavallaro
Tiziana
T
Ferrari
Sergio
S
Rizzuto
Nicolò
N
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules