2nd National Conference Human Retroviruses and Related Infections Washington, DC - January 29 - February 2, 1995

Natl Conf Hum Retrovir Relat Infect 1995 Jan 29-Feb 2;2: (abstract no. 24)

Isaacson SH, Al-Attar A, Gajdusek DC, Gibbs CJ Jr
NINDS, NIH, Bethesda, MD

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine which cells in the human central nervous system were directly infected with HTLV-1.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of HTLV-1 associated neurological disease is unclear. Indirect mechanisms involving cytokines and other cytotoxic factors have been implicated. Direct infection of neurons and glia has not been clearly demonstrated.

METHODS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded brain and spinal cord sections from two patients with HTLV-1 confirmed myelopathy and dementia were mounted on silanated glass slides. PCR amplification of HTLV-1 RNA was performed in situ, and amplified product was detected with labeled probe hybridization.

RESULTS: Multifocal areas of infection were demonstrated in the brain and in the spinal cord. Although endothelial and inflammatory cells contained staining, many neuroglia within these foci were also stained. Both cytoplasmic and intranuclear staining was evident.

CONCLUSION: Direct infection of the CNS may play a role in HTLV-1 associated neurological disease. Immunohistochemistry is being used to precisely identify infected neuroglia.

Keywords: Brain, Brain Diseases, Central Nervous System, Communicable Diseases, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Infection, Paraffin Embedding, Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Spinal Cord, Spinal Cord Diseases, Staining and Labeling

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1995-01-29
24

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