Reversibility of the pathological changes in the follicular dendritic cell network with treatment of HIV-1 infection

ZQ Zhang, T Schuler, W Cavert… - Proceedings of the …, 1999 - National Acad Sciences
ZQ Zhang, T Schuler, W Cavert, DW Notermans, K Gebhard, K Henry, DV Havlir
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1999National Acad Sciences
Over the course of HIV-1 infection, the lymphoid follicles where the humoral immune
response is generated initially increase in size and number and then progressively involute.
In advanced disease, the network of the processes of follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) that
serve as antigen repositories and anatomical substrate for B and T cells and antigen to
interact is destroyed, contributing to the breakdown of the immune system. Because
destruction of FDCs is associated with deposition of HIV-1, and much of the virus can be …
Over the course of HIV-1 infection, the lymphoid follicles where the humoral immune response is generated initially increase in size and number and then progressively involute. In advanced disease, the network of the processes of follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) that serve as antigen repositories and anatomical substrate for B and T cells and antigen to interact is destroyed, contributing to the breakdown of the immune system. Because destruction of FDCs is associated with deposition of HIV-1, and much of the virus can be cleared from the network with antiretroviral therapy, we investigated the reversibility of damage. We measured the immunohistochemically stainable FDC compartment by quantitative image analysis, and we documented changes in this compartment at different stages of disease. We show that treatment, initiated even at advanced stages of HIV-1 disease, can slowly reverse pathological changes in the FDC network.
National Acad Sciences