HIV-1 in trophoblastic and villous Hofbauer cells, and haematological precursors in eight-week fetuses

Lancet. 1990 Mar 10;335(8689):565-8. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(90)90349-a.

Abstract

AIDS in children is usually caused by vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Aborted eight-week fetal and placental tissue from HIV-1 positive and negative (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot) women was analysed by immunocytochemistry and in-situ hybridisation. Maternal decidual leucocytes, villous trophoblastic derivatives, villous mesenchymal cells, and embryonic blood cell precursors in tissues from seropositive patients all stained for HIV-1 antigen and hybridised for nucleic acids. These observations suggest that a cytological pathway for vertical transmission of HIV-1 is established by eight weeks gestational age.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Chorionic Villi / analysis*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / pathology
  • Erythroid Precursor Cells / analysis
  • Female
  • HIV Antigens / analysis*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / analysis
  • HIV Seropositivity / immunology*
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes / analysis*
  • Macrophages / analysis*
  • Placenta / analysis*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimester, First
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Trophoblasts / analysis*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • HIV Antigens
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41