Jejunal biopsy in HIV-infected patients

Article Abstract:

Frequently, individuals with AIDS have diarrhea. Intestinal infections are thought to cause it usually, but the microorganisms responsible for diarrhea cannot be isolated in the majority of the patients. Abnormalities in the middle portion of the intestines, the jejunum, have been observed. The tissues of the jejunum, obtained by biopsy, of 49 patients from Brazil who were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were examined for abnormalities and for the presence of microorganisms. Thirty-seven of the patients had AIDS and 23 of these individuals had diarrhea. Abnormalities in the jejunal tissues were seen primarily in the patients with diarrhea. Fewer than normal numbers of lymphocytes, which fight off infection, were present. Infectious microorganisms could not be found in the majority of the patients, which is especially unusual for patients living in a tropical country. The genus of infectious microorganism most often isolated was Cryptosporidium, found in 22 percent of the cases. Therefore, the cause of diarrhea in most of the patients with AIDS is not known. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Causes of, Brazil, AIDS patients, Diarrhea

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HIV-1 propagates in human neuroblastoma cells

Article Abstract:

Neurological disorders, including dementia (confusion), often occur in patients with AIDS. Studies have shown that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, which causes AIDS) can directly infect brain cells. HIV can also be grown outside of the body in neuroblastoma cell lines. Neuroblastomas are highly cancerous tumors of neurons (nerve cells) that spread to other parts of the body. The HIV-infected neuroblastoma cells were examined and found to have large amounts of the virus. Neuroblastomas contain the protein CD4, which HIV uses to enter the cells. In the laboratory, when antibody molecules to CD4 were added to the neuroblastoma cells and HIV, the antibodies blocked infection. These findings demonstrate that neuroblastomas can be used as a tissue culture system to study the interactions of HIV and brain cells. In addition, HIV-infected neuroblastomas can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of various therapies against HIV infection in brain cells. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Infection, HIV (Viruses), HIV, Central nervous system, Cancer cells, Host-virus relationships

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