Study results from University of Paris broaden understanding of HIV/AIDS
2009 AUG 3 - (NewsRx.com) -- "We characterized the localization, phenotype, and some functions of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in the human spleen. pDCs were localized in the marginal zone and the periarteriolar region. Some were also found in the red pulp. pDCs were immature by phenotypic labeling, consistently with their capacity to internalize Dextran in a functional assay," researchers in Paris, France report. "In spleens from HIV-infected patients with thrombocytopenic purpura, these characteristics were unaffected. However, an accumulation of pDCs, but not myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs), was observed in some HIV+ patients, correlating with high proviral loads. Moreover, although undetectable in most HIV- patients, interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) production was evidenced in situ and by flow cytometry in most HIV+ patients. IFN-alpha was located in the marginal zone. Surprisingly, IFN-alpha colocalized only with few pDCs, but rather with other cells, including T and B lymphocytes, mDCs, and macrophages," wrote M. Nascimbeni and colleagues, University of Paris. The researchers concluded: "Therefore, pDCs accumulated in spleens from HIV+ patients with high proviral loads, but they did not seem to be the main IFN-alpha producers. (Blood. 2009; 113:6112-6119)." Nascimbeni and colleagues published their study in Blood (Plasmacytoid dendritic cells accumulate in spleens from chronically HIV-infected patients but barely participate in interferon-alpha expression. Blood, 2009;113(24):6112-6119). For additional information, contact A. Hosmalin, University of Paris, Dept. of Immunology, Institute Cochin, CNRS, UMR 8104, Batiment Gustave Roussy, 27 Rue Faubourg St. Jacque, Paris, France. Publisher contact information for the journal Blood is: American Society Hematology, 1900 M Street. NW Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036, USA. Keywords: France, Paris, HIV/AIDS, AIDS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV, Hematology, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Interferon, Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Virology, University of Paris. This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, AIDS Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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