The analysis for human immunodeficiency virus infection in gastric mucosa from acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the distribution and amount of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in gastric mucosa from untreated acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) treated patients.Methods Thirty-five AIDS patients (14 untreated patients and 21 patients receiving HAART) and 10 HIV-1 seronegative patients with gastrointestinal symptoms were enrolled and examined by upper endoscopy.The labeled HIV-1 double-stranded cDNA probe was a PCR product corresponding to the LTR and gag gene of the HIV-1 genome.HIV in gastric mucosal tissues from AIDS patients was detected using in situ hybridization (ISH) and compared with that in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).Results ① No obvious character was found in gastrointestinal symptoms,endoscopy examination and pathology results of AIDS patients.② The expression of HIV gene was mainly detected in the gastric mucosal mononuclear cell (MMC).Other cells were also observed with HIV expression including mucosal epithelial cells,gland epithelial cells and interstitial cells.③There was no difference in HIV expression between sinus ventriculi and gastric body.④ HIV gene expression from AIDS patients was (1.97±3.25)% in gastric mucosa,no difference in HIV gene expression between two groups (P＞0.05).⑤ HIV gene expression in PBMC smear from AIDS patients was (12.38 ± 9.17)%.HIV expreesion in PBMC from patients who had received HAART for 1-4 years were markedly lower than that from patients who had not received HAART (P＜0.05).Conclusions The gastric mueosa is one of HIV infected sites.The potential effect of HAART on the decrease of HIV infected cells in gastric mucosa was unsatisfactory. Key words: HIV infections; Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Gastric mucosa; Antiretroviral therapy,highly active