IN-SITU DETECTION OF PCR-AMPLIFIED HIV-1 NUCLEIC-ACIDS AND TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR CDNA IN CERVICAL TISSUES

This study determined the histological distribution of polymerase chai n reaction-amplified human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) DNA and RN A in cervical tissues. Amplified HIV-1 DNA and complementary DNA were detected in each of 21 cervical biopsies from women with acquired immu nodeficiency syndrome. The viral nucleic acids were most abundant in t he endocervical aspect of the transformation zone at the interface of the glandular epithelium and the submucosa and in the deep submucosa a round microvessels. Many virally infected cells colabeled with leukocy te common antigen, Mac387, and polymerase chain reaction-amplified tum or necrosis factor complementary DNA, demonstrating that they were act ivated macrophages. Virally amplified nucleic acids were not detected in 10 controls and in only one of eight cervical tissues from children less than 3 years of age who died due to immunodeficiency syndrome ac quired in utero. Determining whether the HIV-1-infected macrophages co nsistently present in the cervix of adult seropositive women may repre sent primary infection and, if so, whether they can transport the viru s to regional lymph nodes and thus initiate systemic infection require s further study.