Follicular dendritic cells are a major reservoir for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in lymphoid tissues facilitating infection of CD4+ T-helper cells.

摘要: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection causes progressive depletion of CD4/HIV-receptor-positive T helper lymphocytes, ultimately leading to AIDS. The major HIV reservoir and site T-helper cell in lymphoid tissues, however, has remained poorly defined. authors used situ hybridization combination with immunohistologic labeling techniques identify the phenotype HIV-infected cells lymph nodes from patients at different stages HIV-infection. number macrophages, widely considered replication, was extremely low. There no evidence for HIV-infection endothelial interdigitating reticulum cells. However, RNA found small but consistent proportions CD45RO-positive vast majority follicular dendritic (FDC) a pattern suggestive active addition HIV-immunocomplex trapping on membranes. FDC may therefore be since travel through meshwork during their migration within lymphoreticular it appears likely that HIV-replicating infect FDC, which then new cells, thus causing gradual dissemination all thereby steadily increasing T-helper/memory germinal centers. This results CD4+ depletion, ultimately, immunodeficiency.