Abstract
Patients with AIDS who become infected with Cryptococcus neoformans have a poor prognosis. We speculated that the presence of cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide may enhance HIV-1 infection. In an in-vitro study, the presence of cryptococcal polysaccharide significantly increased (p<0·05) production of p24 antigen after infection of H9 cells with HIV-1-infected H9 cells. We also found similar results when lymphocytes from an HIV-1-infected patient were co-cultured with mononuclear cells from an uninfected individual. Our findings suggest a new pathogenic role for the capsular polysaccharide-namely, the capacity to enhance HIV-1 infectivity.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 21-23 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | The Lancet |
Volume | 339 |
Issue number | 8784 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 4 1992 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)