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Changes Seen in Peripheral Blood Monocytes as a Result of HIV Type 1 Infection: Presented at ASCP By Lexa W. Lee NEW ORLEANS, LA -- October 19, 2007 -- Although specific surface markers of peripheral blood monocytes in patients infected with HIV-1 patients do not differ from those in healthy individuals, the infected monocytes are activated and show internal changes, according to a study presented here at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP). HIV-1 primarily infects CD4-positive T lymphocytes, like peripheral blood monocytes, which play an important role in immune responses. HIV-1 infects these monocytes without harming them; the virus is thought to use these cells as a reservoir for the infection of other cells, according to Ali Gabali, MD, Pathologist, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Dr. Gabali and colleagues conducted their study to compare the phenotype and morphology of peripheral blood monocytes of HIV-1 patients, regardless of viral load, and the monocytes of healthy individuals. Using venous blood, peripheral blood monocytes of HIV-1 patients and healthy adults were isolated; cell phenotypes were characterised by evaluating the expression of the antigen-presenting cell surface markers CD14, CD16, CD4, and HLA-DR by immunoassay. In addition, cell morphology and cytochemistry of the two groups of monocytes were examined by light microscopy, and electron microscopy was used to evaluate enzyme activity (alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase, ANBE) and ultrastructure properties. Expression of CD14, CD16, and CD4 did not differ between the infected monocytes and the healthy monocytes. However, in the monocytes of HIV-1 patients, expression of the monocyte activation marker HLA-DR was upregulated, and ANBE activity was found to be increased. Microscopy also revealed that the HIV-1 monocytes had some internal differences. Cytoplasmic fibrillary structures were few, consisting of regular and irregular thin patterns, and there were fewer cytoplasmic vacuoles. The significance of these differences is not well understood. "The virus can live in infected monocytes for a long time. We found that the specific surface markers are not different between monocytes from infected individuals as compared to monocytes in HIV-negative patients," the researchers said. "However, there were internal abnormalities, either structural or chemical. HIV-1 patients have haphazard arrangements of intermediate filaments." This study indicates that peripheral blood monocytes of HIV-1 infected patients are activated and have increased ANBE enzyme activity, the researchers concluded. HIV-1 infection does not alter CD4, CD14, and CD16 expression. The investigators suggested that activated monocytes may play a role in the course of HIV-1 infection. [Presentation title: Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Infection Alters the Activation Status of Peripheral Blood Monocytes. Poster 27] E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version