HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION OF DORSAL-ROOT GANGLION NEURONS DETECTED BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION

A predominantly sensory peripheral neuropathy is common with human imm unodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but the cause is unknown. Formali n-fixed dorsal root ganglia (DRG), obtained at postmortem from patient s with neuropathy and HIV infection and from control subjects, were ex amined for the presence of HIV DNA by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified in situ hybridization. Viral message RNA was detected using reverse transcription in situ PCR with gag-specific primers, HIV DNA and RNA sequences were detected in many satellite cells, mononucl ear cells, and occasional neurons in 5 of 5 patients with HN and neuro pathy. HIV DNA was detected only in rare interstitia and satellite cel ls from 3 of 4 patients with HPV infection without neuropathy and was not detected in 6 patients without HIV infection, HIV infection of DRG neurons and supporting cells may contribute to the HIV-associated sen sory neuropathy.