VASCULAR CHANGES IN THE CEREBRAL-CORTEX IN HIV-1 INFECTION .2. AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL AND LECTINHISTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION

In human immunodeficiency virus 1 (H1V-1)-infected patients, a hypoper fusion is seen by SPECT analy ses in different brain regions but a spe cific pattern for the predominance of a specific brain region has not been found. The vessels of the cerebral cortex of the frontal, tempora l, parietal, and occipital lobes of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) brains and control brains were analyzed by immunohistochemistr y and lectin histochemistry. Immunohistochemistry was performed for co llagen IV, laminin (basal lamina), and factor VIII (endothelial cell) and lectin histochemistry [Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA-I), Ulex e uropaeus agglutinin (UEA-I), wheatgerm agglutinin (WGA) and soybean ag glutinin (SBA)] was used to study changes of glycoproteins in the endo thelial cell membrane. Vessels were counted in the gray and white matt er, and their staining intensity for the different antibodies and lect ins was rated using a three-point scale. Immunoreactivity for collagen IV was reduced in AIDS brains, which may be related to thinning of th e basal lamina of cerebral vessels, as has previously been shown by el ectron microscopy. Lectin histochemistry with SEA, UEA-I and WGA indic ated loss of glycoproteins in the membrane of endothelial cells. The d ata from the present study show morphological changes of the endotheli al cells and of the basal lamina in the brain of individuals with AIDS , and might represent the morphological sequelae of a disturbed blood- brain barrier, or may account for the hypoperfusion seen in SPECT anal yses.