Abstract
The brains of 22 HIV-1-infected cases and 11 controls, matched for age and sex, were studied with immunocytochemical reactions specific for oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, microglia and HIV-1. In HIV-1 infection, mild degrees of myelin damage were associated with an increase in oligodendrocyte numbers, a change that was reversed in the presence of severe damage. Severity of myelin damage correlated with the extent of astrocytic and microglial reactions expressed in a semi-quantitative manner. HIV-1 p24 antigen was detected in all cases with severe myelin damage and a smaller proportion of cases with lesser degrees of myelin damage. It is concluded that, in HIV-1 infection, oligodendrocytes undergo an initial reactive hyperplasia which may represent an attempt to repair myelin damage.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases / analysis
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / microbiology
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / pathology
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Astrocytes / microbiology
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Astrocytes / pathology
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Brain / microbiology
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Carbonic Anhydrases / analysis
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Demyelinating Diseases / microbiology
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Demyelinating Diseases / pathology*
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Female
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / analysis
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HIV Core Protein p24 / analysis
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HIV Infections / microbiology
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HIV Infections / pathology*
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HIV-1*
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Humans
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Hyperplasia
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Immunohistochemistry
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Oligodendroglia / enzymology
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Oligodendroglia / microbiology
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Oligodendroglia / pathology*
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Ricin
Substances
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
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HIV Core Protein p24
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Ricin
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2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases
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Carbonic Anhydrases