Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis in Primates Infected With a Simian Immunodeficiency Virus

Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSG) with endothelial tubuloreticular inclusions (TRIs) is the typical lesion of human HIV-associated glomerulopathy, Autopsy studies showed the presence of FSG in 3 of 15 macaques dying 15-120 weeks after experimental infection with a sinian immunodeficiency virus (SIVMne). Ultrastructural studies generally revealed numerous endothelial TRIs (also present in normals), mesangial expansion, and evidence of mesangial cell injury, One additional animal had a small-vessel polyarteritis with a proliferative and focally crescentic glomerulonephritis; seven animals had mild, multifocal interstitial nephritis, All animals had documented viremia after infection; 14 of 15 developed antibodies to SIV postinoculation, Additional postmortem findings included severe enterocolitis, encephalitis, and opportunistic infections, In contrast, autopsy studies of macaques infected with a type D sinian retrovirus (SAIDS-D/Washington, SRV-2) for similar periods of time (n = 40) showed no evidence of FSG, One SRV-infected animal had a mild proliferative glomerulonephritis. These studies indicate SIV-infected primates may provide a relevant model for study of human HIV-associated nephropathy, They also indicate the variable pathology that can be seen in primate infections of distinct retrovirus types, each of which produces a sinian immunodeficiency state that resembles human AIDS. [References: 68]

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