EXPRESSION OF INDUCIBLE NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHASE IN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTED GLIAL-CELLS OF RETINAS FROM AIDS PATIENTS

The inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase has been detected in cy tomegalovirus (CMV)-infected retinas from acquired immunodeficiency sy ndrome (AIDS) patients by immunohistochemistry and NADPH-diaphorase st aining. Subsequent immunohistochemistry using antibodies against CMV a ntigens and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) demonstrated that i nducible NOS was localized in CMV-infected glial cells, particularly M uller cells. These findings indicate that inducible NOS is expressed i n vivo in the human retina as a result of Viral infection, and suggest that high levels of NO production might be involved in CMV-induced re tinitis.