In situ detection of PCR-amplified HIV-1 nucleic acids and tumor necrosis factor cDNA in cervical tissues.

This study determined the histological distribution of polymerase chain reaction-amplified human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) DNA and RNA in cervical tissues. Amplified HIV-1 DNA and complementary DNA were detected in each of 21 cervical biopsies from women with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The viral nucleic acids were most abundant in the endocervical aspect of the transformation zone at the interface of the glandular epithelium and the submucosa and in the deep submucosa around microvessels. Many virally infected cells colabeled with leukocyte common antigen, Mac387, and polymerase chain reaction-amplified tumor necrosis factor complementary DNA, demonstrating that they were activated macrophages. Virally amplified nucleic acids were not detected in 10 controls and in only one of eight cervical tissues from children less than 3 years of age who died due to immunodeficiency syndrome acquired in utero. Determining whether the HIV-1-infected macrophages consistently present in the cervix of adult seropositive women may represent primary infection and, if so, whether they can transport the virus to regional lymph nodes and thus initiate systemic infection requires further study.