Detection of HIV-1 gene sequences in hippocampal neurons isolated from postmortem AIDS brains by laser capture microdissection

Citation
J. Torres-munoz et al., Detection of HIV-1 gene sequences in hippocampal neurons isolated from postmortem AIDS brains by laser capture microdissection, J NE EXP NE, 60(9), 2001, pp. 885-892
Citations number
62
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
JOURNAL OF NEUROPATHOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
ISSN journal
00223069 → ACNP
Volume
60
Issue
9
Year of publication
2001
Pages
885 - 892
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-3069(200109)60:9<885:DOHGSI>2.0.ZU;2-Q
Abstract
We employed laser capture microdissection to remove individual pyramidal ne urons from the CA1, CA3, and CA4 regions of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedd ed hippocampus from 8 AIDS brains and 2 HIV-1-seronegative normal brains. W e amplified HIV-1 gag and nef gene sequences using separate, double round P CR reactions for each of the primer sets. In all 3 bippocampal regions, amp lification efficiency was best with sequence length between 284 and 324 bp; HIV-1 nef gene sequences were more common than HIV-1 gag sequences; and ra nk order for percent positive amplification was CA3>CA4 >CA1 samples. These results are the first to detect HIV-1 gene sequences in microdissected hum an tissue. They indicate that brain neurons in vivo contain HIV-1 DNA seque nces consistent with latent infection by this virus, and suggest that neuro ns display a selective vulnerability for HIV infection. Neuronal HIV infect ion could contribute to neuronal injury and death or act as a potential vir al reservoir if reactivated.