Transcriptional activity of HIV-1 and HHV-6 in retinal lesions from AIDS patients

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1992 Sep;33(10):2759-67.

Abstract

This study determined the frequency of multiple viral (HIV-1, HHV-6, and CMV) infections in 26 retinas from 16 AIDS patients. Of the 12 retinas of 26 that tested positive for HIV-1 DNA sequences, seven also were positive for HHV-6 DNA sequences. Four of these seven retinas were culture positive for HIV-1 and two of the four contained CMV DNA sequences and antigens. Using RNA probes, HIV-1 and HHV-6 transcriptional activity was demonstrated in two of the four HIV-1 culture positive retinas. These retinas also contained CMV DNA sequences and antigens. The results demonstrate that more than 35% of AIDS patients suffer from at least two simultaneous viral infections and 15% suffer from three viral infections. The presence of transcriptional activity of HIV-1 and HHV-6 suggests an active infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / microbiology
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / pathology
  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis
  • Base Sequence
  • Cytomegalovirus / genetics
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology
  • Cytomegalovirus / isolation & purification
  • Cytomegalovirus / ultrastructure
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / microbiology
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / pathology
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Eye Infections, Viral / microbiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral
  • HIV Infections / microbiology*
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / immunology
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification
  • HIV-1 / ultrastructure
  • Herpesviridae Infections / microbiology*
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / genetics*
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / immunology
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / isolation & purification
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / ultrastructure
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA Probes
  • Retinal Diseases / microbiology*
  • Retinal Diseases / pathology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • DNA, Viral
  • RNA Probes