FOCAL SEGMENTAL GLOMERULOSCLEROSIS IN PRIMATES INFECTED WITH A SIMIANIMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS

Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSG) with endothelial tubulore ticular inclusions (TRIs) is the typical lesion of human HIV-associate d glomerulopathy, Autopsy studies showed the presence of FSG in 3 of 1 5 macaques dying 15-120 weeks after experimental infection with a sini an immunodeficiency virus (SIVMne). Ultrastructural studies generally revealed numerous endothelial TRIs (also present in normals), mesangia l expansion, and evidence of mesangial cell injury, One additional ani mal had a small-vessel polyarteritis with a proliferative and focally crescentic glomerulonephritis; seven animals had mild, multifocal inte rstitial nephritis, All animals had documented viremia after infection ; 14 of 15 developed antibodies to SIV postinoculation, Additional pos tmortem findings included severe enterocolitis, encephalitis, and oppo rtunistic infections, In contrast, autopsy studies of macaques infecte d with a type D sinian retrovirus (SAIDS-D/Washington, SRV-2) for simi lar periods of time (n = 40) showed no evidence of FSG, One SRV-infect ed animal had a mild proliferative glomerulonephritis. These studies i ndicate SIV-infected primates may provide a relevant model for study o f human HIV-associated nephropathy, They also indicate the variable pa thology that can be seen in primate infections of distinct retrovirus types, each of which produces a sinian immunodeficiency state that res embles human AIDS.