Zambruno G, Cimarelli A, Salemi M, Marconi A, Giannetti A, Bertazzoni U; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1993 Jun 6-11; 9: 140 (abstract no. PO-A02-0032).
Dept. of Dermatology, University of Modena, Italy.
Human Langerhans cells (LC) are bone marrow-derived, CD1a+, MHC-class II+, CD4+, dendritic antigen-presenting cells populating the epidermis and mucosal epithelia. We have recently reported the presence of HIV-1 proviral DNA and RNA in purified LC from the epidermis of seropositive patients (J Invest Dermatol 1991, 96: 979; J AIDS, in press). The aim of the present study was to quantify HIV-1 proviral DNA in LC of infected patients using a competitive PCR assay. Bulk epidermal cell (EC) suspensions were prepared from the skin of 3 recently deceased AIDS patients and from 5 seronegative subjects undergoing plastic surgery. Purified LC (94 +/- 4% HLA-DR+ cells with no CD3+ cells, as confirmed by FACS analysis) and LC-depleted EC were obtained by immunomagnetic separation using an anti-CD1a monoclonal antibody. A new competitive PCR system was devised using SK145 and SK150 primers and a competitor plasmid DNA with a modified sequence (209 bp instead of 142). The number of HIV-1 DNA copies found in the LC of the three AIDS patients ranged from 10(2)-10(3)/10(5) cells. In contrast, LC-depleted EC fractions from the same subjects as well as purified LC and LC-depleted EC from seronegative controls were negative. The results indicate that in AIDS patients the frequency of infected LC is comparable to that reported for CD4+ T cells. The viral load in epidermal LC from subjects at different stages of HIV infection is currently under investigation.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- AIDS Vaccines
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Antigens, CD4
- DNA
- DNA, Viral
- HIV
- HIV Antibodies
- HIV Antigens
- HIV Core Protein p24
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- HLA-DR Antigens
- Humans
- Immunomagnetic Separation
- Langerhans Cells
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Skin
- Viral Load
- immunology
Other ID:
UI: 102202836
From Meeting Abstracts