HIV-1 INFECTION IN THE LYMPHOID ORGANS

Aim: To develop a model of HIV disease progression. Method: Comparativ e analysis of viral burden and replication between peripheral blood an d lymphoid organs and of the changes in viral distribution in the lymp hoid tissue. Results: In early-stage disease HIV-1-infected cells were sequestered in the lymphoid tissue, and the viral particles were conc entrated and trapped in the germinal centers. The dichotomy in viral b urden and viral replication between peripheral blood and lymphoid tiss ue was related to the histopathologic abnormalities associated with di fferent stages of disease. Conclusions: These histopathologic abnormal ities may not only explain the changes in viral distribution observed in the lymphoid tissue in different stages of the disease, but may als o reflect different functional states of the immune system during the progression of HIV-1 infection from early- to late-stage disease.