Langerhans' cells are an actual site of HIV-1 replication. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1989. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Langerhans' cells are an actual site of HIV-1 replication.

Intervirology. 1988;29(4):185-94. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/89033029
Rappersberger K; Gartner S; Schenk P; Stingl G; Groh V; Tschachler E; Mann DL; Wolff K; Konrad K; Popovic M; Department of Dermatology I, University of Vienna Medical School,; Austria.

Abstract: Human epidermal Langerhans' cells (LC) are HLA-DR+/DQ+, CD1+, CD4+ dendritic antigen-presenting leukocytes. Based on the observation that in certain human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infected individuals, LC are the only epidermal cells to react with monoclonal antibodies against HIV-1 isolate termed human T-lymphotropic virus IIIB/83 core proteins p17 and p24, we have proposed that LC can serve as a target for HIV-1. This contention was strengthened by the ultrastructural finding of HIV-1-like particles in the close proximity of LC and by the demonstration of signs of moderate to severe LC damage. Detailed electron microscopic analysis of skin and mucosal biopsies from an AIDS patient with p17/p24-positive LC now revealed not only mature HIV-1-like virions in the extracellular space surrounding LC and in intracytoplasmic LC vacuoles, but also developmental forms of HIV-1-like particles budding from LC surface membranes. Using peripheral blood derived monocytes/macrophages as targets for HIV-1 isolation, a virus isolate, designated human T-lymphotropic virus III WR-SK/86, was recovered from skin tissue from this patient by cocultivation and identified as unique by nucleic acid hybridization analysis. These findings now conclusively show that HIV-1 replicates in and is released from LC and support the concept that antigen-presenting cells (mononuclear phagocytes, LC) can serve as a reservoir for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome virus.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/MICROBIOLOGY AIDS-Related Complex/MICROBIOLOGY Human HIV-1/ISOLATION & PURIF/*PHYSIOLOGY/ULTRASTRUCTURE Langerhans Cells/*MICROBIOLOGY Microscopy, Electron Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Virus Replication JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/microbiologyaids-relatedcomplex/microbiologyhumanhiv-1/isolation&purif/KWDphysiology/ultrastructurelangerhanscells/KWDmicrobiologymicroscopy,electronsupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tvirusreplicationjournalarticle
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M8920437

Copyright © 1989 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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