Functional abnormalities of monocytes/macrophages in HIV1-infected patients as demonstrated by the skin window procedure.

Skin window (SW) tests were performed in ten HIV1-infected patients and in ten healthy volunteers. The chemotaxis of monocytes/macrophages is weakened in AIDS patients, since the number of monocytes/macrophages attracted by the SW stimulus decreases in HIV1-infected subjects during the observation time, whereas the number increases in control individuals. HLA-DR expression decreases faster in AIDS patients than in healthy volunteers. Giant cell formation occurs and disappears earlier in HIV1-infected patients than in healthy control individuals. The results suggest that, at least in part, the impairment of chemotaxis and other functional abnormalities of mononuclear phagocytes are caused by their accelerated aging in HIV1-infected patients.