HIV

pathology
SUFIA HUSAIN
Pathology
KSU, Riyadh
April 2017
Reference: Robbins & Cotran Pathology and
Rubin’s Pathology
LECTURE OUTLINE
▪ Understand the pathogenesis of the Aids syndrome.
▪ Recognize the systemic manifestations of the Aids syndrome with special emphasis on
Kaposi sarcoma and principal opportunistic infections that could be encountered in
Aids patients.
 Introduction
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the causative
agent for AIDS.
• HIV is caused by a retrovirus of the lentivirus family that
contains only RNA .
• It was unknown until the early 1980's, but since then has
spread around the world to infect millions of people.
• The most common type of HIV infection is known as HIV-1
and is the type that has led to the worldwide AIDS
epidemic.
• There is also an HIV-2 that is much less common.
• The result of HIV infection is the destruction of the
immune system. http://www.itg.be/internet/e-learning/written_lecture_eng/HIVstructure_Carlos_exe.jpg

• All HIV infected persons are at risk for illness and death
from development of opportunistic infections and tumors
and the inevitable manifestations of AIDS.
 HIV Structure
▪ The mature virus consists of an
electron dense core containing
the viral genome consisting of
the 2 short strands of RNA
(ribonucleic acid).
▪ It also contains the enzymes
reverse transcriptase, protease, http://pixgood.com/human-immunodeficiency-virus-microscope.html

ribonuclease, and integrase.

▪ All are encased by an outer
lipid envelope.
 Pathogenesis of HIV infection

▪ The HIV virion expresses a cell surface

protein/antigen called gp120.
▪ gp120 aids in the binding of the virus to the
target cells. Once the virus enters the
human body it attaches itself to the target
cell via the CD4 receptors on the surface of
the target cell and therefore gains entry into
the target cell. Gp120 is responsible for
tropism/attraction to CD4+ receptors. This
function helps in entry of HIV into the host
cell.
▪ In addition gp120 also binds to two co-
receptors CXCR4 and CCR5 on the host cell
surface. They also assist in the entry of the http://www.itg.be/internet/e-learning/written_lecture_eng/2_virus_entry_in_the_body.html

virus into the host cell.

▪ The T-lymphocytes have surface CD4
receptors (CD4+ T lymphocytes) to which
HIV can attach to promote entry into the
cell.
Human immunodeficiency virus is shown crossing the
mucosa of the genital tract to infect CD4+ T lymphocytes. A
Langerhans cell in the epithelium is shown in red in this
diagram

NOTE: The probability of infection depends on both the number of infective HIV
virions in the body fluid which contacts the host as well as the number of cells with
CD4 receptors available at the site of contact.
 Pathogenesis of hiv infection
▪ Retroviruses are unable to replicate outside of
living host cells because they contain only RNA
and do not contain DNA. Therefore once HIV
infects a cell, it must use its reverse
transcriptase enzyme to transcribe/ convert its
RNA to host cell proviral DNA for replication.
▪ The enzyme, reverse transcriptase in the HIV
helps in the reverse transcription (i.e.
conversion) of RNA to proviral DNA. This HIV
proviral DNA is then inserted into host cell
genomic DNA by the integrase enzyme.
▪ Once the HIV proviral DNA is within the
infected cell's genome the HIV provirus is
replicated by the host cell to produce
additional HIV virions which are released by http://pixgood.com/human-immunodeficiency-virus-microscope.html
surface budding. Alternatively the infected cells
can undergo lysis with release of new HIV
virions which can then infect additional cells. HIV viral particles are seen
adjacent to the cell surface in
this electron micrograph
HIV LIFE CYCLE

http://www.tht.org.uk/myhiv/HIV-and-you/Simple-science/The-immune-system
 Establishment of HIV Infection

▪ Macrophages and Langerhans cells are important both as reservoirs and

vectors for the spread of HIV in the body including the CNS. Both
macrophages and Langerhans cells can be HIV-infected but are not
destroyed themselves. HIV can then be carried elsewhere in the body.
▪ Once the infection extends to the lymph nodes, the HIV virions are
trapped in the processes of follicular dendritic cells (FDC's), where they
provide a reservoir and infect CD4+ T lymphocytes that are passing
through the lymph node. The FDC's themselves become infected, but are
not destroyed.
▪ The target cells are: blood monocytes and tissue macrophages, T
lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) lymphocytes, dendritic
cells (i.e. the Langerhans cells of epithelia and follicular dendritic cells in
lymph nodes), hematopoietic stem cells, endothelial cells, microglial cells
in brain, and gastrointestinal epithelial cells.
 Establishment of HIV Infection
▪ In addition HIV has the ability to mutate easily. This
high mutation rate leads to the emergence of HIV
variants within the infected person's cells that are
more toxic and can resist drug therapy. Over time,
different tissues of the body may harbor differing HIV
variants
 The major modes of transmission of HIV (the high risk
population)

HIV can be present in a variety of body fluids and secretions. They

include genital secretions, blood, and breast milk, saliva, urine,
tears, and sweat.

NOTE: saliva, urine, tears, and sweat is of no major clinical

importance, as transmission of HIV through these fluids does not
routinely occur because of the low concentration of HIV in these
fluids.
 The major modes of transmission of HIV (the high risk population)

1. HIV is primarily spread as a sexually transmissible disease. Transmission of

HIV can occur from male to male, male to female, and female to male.
Female to female transmission remains extremely rare.
2. HIV can be transmitted through parenteral route, e.g.
• Intravenous drug users sharing infected needles. Less common practices
like use of instruments such as tattoo needles not properly disinfected also
carries a potential risk.
• Health care workers with percutaneous exposures (needle puncture) to
HIV-containing blood.
• Persons receiving multiple blood transfusions e.g hemophiliacs. Screening
of blood products for HIV has significantly reduced HIV transmission by this
means.
3. HIV infection can also be acquired as a congenital infection either
perinatally or in infancy. Mothers with HIV infection can pass the virus
• transplacentally i.e. in utero
• at the time of delivery through the birth canal
• through breast milk.
NOTE: HIV infection is not spread by casual contact in public places, households,
or in the workplace. HIV is not spread by insect vectors. There is no vaccine
to prevent HIV infection
Diagnosis OF HIV
▪ Test for HIV antibodies is done with a rapid test using
an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
technique.
▪ If rapid test is positive, then the next step is to:
▪ Confirm HIV infection with Western blot or
immunofluorescence assay (IFA)
NOTE: The average HIV-infected person may take up to
several weeks to become seropositive, and then may
live up to 8 or 10 years, on average, before
development of the clinical signs and symptoms of
AIDS.
Primary HIV Infection

Primary HIV infection may go unnoticed in at

least half of cases or produce a mild disease
which quickly subsides, or produce acute HIV
infection, followed by a long clinical "latent"
period lasting years.
Primary acute HIV infections may include
fever, generalized lymphadenopathy,
pharyngitis, rash, arthralgia and diarrhea.
These symptoms diminish over 1 to 2 months.
 Pathogenesis of AIDS/clinical AIDS

• The primary target of HIV is the immune system, which is gradually destroyed.
• Clinically, HIV infection may appear "latent" for years. During this period there is
ongoing immune system destruction but still enough of the immune system
remains intact to provide immunity and prevent most infections.
• Eventually, when a significant number of CD4+ T lymphocytes have been
destroyed and when production of new CD4+ cells cannot match destruction,
then failure of the immune system leads to the appearance of clinical AIDS
• The progression to clinical AIDS is also marked by the appearance of syncytia-
forming (SI) variants of HIV in about half of HIV infected patients. These SI
variants are associated with more rapid CD4+ cell decline.
• The development of signs and symptoms of AIDS correlates with the CD4+
lymphocyte count. When the CD4+ lymphocyte count drops below
200/microliter, then the stage of clinical AIDS has been reached. This is the point
at which the characteristic opportunistic infections and neoplasms of AIDS
appear. The CD4+T cells to CD8+T cells ratio is also greatly reduced, often to less
than 1.0.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
▪ The stage of clinical AIDS is reached years after initial
infection and is marked by the development of one or more
of the typical opportunistic infections or neoplasms
common to AIDS.
▪ Following are some of the more common complications
seen with AIDS:
▪ Infections e.g. pneumocystis jiroveci, CMV, mycobacteria,
fungal etc.
▪ Neoplasms
▪ Miscellaneous e.g. lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis is a
condition involving the lung that can be seen in AIDS in
children.
Infections
Pneumocystis jiroveci
▪Pneumocystis jiroveci (formerly carinii) is the most frequent opportunistic
infection seen with AIDS. It commonly produces a pulmonary infection.
▪Diagnosis is made histologically by finding the organisms in cytologic
(bronchoalveolar lavage) or biopsy (transbronchial biopsy) material from
lung.
▪In the lung, there is soap bubble like intra-alveolar exudate and the
organism appears as cyst like structures that are positive with silver stain.
Cytomegalovirus
▪Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is seen with AIDS. It causes pneumonia
and it can also cause serious disease in the brain and gastrointestinal tract.
It is also a common cause for retinitis and blindness in persons with AIDS.
 Infections

Mycobacterial infections
▪ Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
▪ Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection.
▪ Definitive diagnosis of mycobacterial disease is made by culture
and PCR.
Fungal Infections
▪ Candidiasis of the esophagus, trachea, bronchi, or lungs.
▪ Cryptococcus neoformans (produces pneumonia and
meningitis), Histoplasma capsulatum, and Coccidioides immitis.
 Other infections
▪ Toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that most often leads to infection of
the brain with AIDS.
▪ Herpes simplex infection in the mucosa
▪ Aspergillosis especially in the lung
▪ Cryptosporidium and Microsporidium produce voluminous watery diarrhea in patients with AIDS.
▪ Viral HIV encephalitis
▪ Syphilis (primary, secondary and tertiary)
Malignant Neoplasms

 Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) produces reddish purple patches or nodules over the skin and
can be diagnosed with skin biopsy. Visceral organ can also be involved with KS. It is a
sarcoma of the blood vessels. It is associated with HHV-8 and on histology, it shows
malignant spindle cells of vascular origin.
 Malignant lymphomas are seen with AIDS. Commonly it is B-cell Non Hodgkins
Lymphoma. They are typically of a high grade and often in the brain. They are very
aggressive and respond poorly to therapy.