Document 0019 DOCN M9470019 TI [Gastrointestinal manifestations of HIV infection] DT 9409 AU Schneider T; Ullrich R; Zeitz M; Abteilung fur Innere Medizin mit Schwerpunkt Gastroenterologie,; Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Klinikum Steglitz der Freien; Universitat Berlin. SO Z Gastroenterol. 1994 Mar;32(3):174-81. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/94256165 AB The intestinal (in particular rectal) mucosa is the main portal of entry for HIV in homosexual men, who represent the vast majority of HIV-infected patients in Europe and North America. There are several possibilities for HIV to reach the CD4-positive T cells, macrophages and follicular-dendritic cells in the intestinal mucosa. HIV may be transported through M-cells directly to mucosal lymph follicles. Alternatively HIV may infect enterocytes via Fc-receptor by antibody-bound HIV or via a CD4-independent receptor. By successive budding on the basolateral side of the enterocytes HIV may be released into the lamina propria. The loss and functional impairment of activated CD4-positive lamina propria T-cells could be responsible for both the decreased immune defense and altered structure and function of the mucosa. The common intestinal symptoms in HIV-infected patients may be caused by a variety of mechanisms. The high number of secondary opportunistic or non-opportunistic infections and secondary malignancies of the gut may be responsible for the observed symptoms. However, the pathogenic relevance of some of these pathogens is questionable since there is often no correlation between symptoms and presence of the pathogen. In addition, there is a considerable percentage of symptomatic patients without identifiable microorganisms. Yet unidentified pathogens, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, damage of intestinal nerve fibres, or secretory diarrhea may contribute to the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal symptoms. The findings of a pathogen-negative diarrhea, of HIV-infected mononuclear cells in the gut, and of epithelial hypoproliferation and enterocyte dysmaturation is in agreement with the hypothesis that there is an enteropathy caused by HIV itself. DE AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/*DIAGNOSIS/IMMUNOLOGY/ PATHOLOGY English Abstract Gastrointestinal Diseases/*DIAGNOSIS/IMMUNOLOGY/PATHOLOGY Human HIV Infections/*DIAGNOSIS/IMMUNOLOGY/PATHOLOGY Intestinal Mucosa/IMMUNOLOGY/PATHOLOGY Leukocyte Count Microscopy, Electron T-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY T4 Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW REVIEW, TUTORIAL SOURCE: National Library of Medicine. NOTICE: This material may be protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).