VCAM-1 EXPRESSION AND LEUKOCYTE TRAFFICKING TO THE CNS OCCUR EARLY ININFECTION WITH PATHOGENIC ISOLATES OF SIV

This study reports on the endothelial expression of vascular cell adhe sion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in the central nervous system (CNS) early aft er experimental infection of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) with path ogenic and nonpathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Diffuse endothelial expression of VCAM-1 was observed in the CNS in all animal s receiving pathogenic SIV. These findings demonstrate the rapidity wi th which pathogenic SIV is able to enter the CNS and induce endothelia l cell activation.