Impaired migration of LCs from skin to lymph nodes in response to contact sensitization in monkeys with AIDS.

(A) Epidermal sheets were isolated from skin biopsies from normal, healthy monkeys (N, n = 5), and monkeys with acute SIV infection (A, n = 9) or AIDS (n = 3) and labeled with mAb to HLA-DR to identify LCs. Mean LC density was calculated from 12 high-power fields. LC density is decreased in acute SIV infection as compared to normal animals (P < .04). (B) FITC was applied to inguinal skin and 24 to 48 hours later skin and draining lymph nodes (LN) were harvested to determine LC migration and the proportion of FITC⁺ DCs in lymph nodes. On the left is shown the proportion of LCs migrating from FITC-painted skin as compared to control contralateral skin in healthy monkeys (n = 4), and monkeys with acute SIV infection (n = 9) or AIDS (n = 3). LC migration in monkeys with AIDS is reduced as compared to normal animals (P < .0007). On the right, FITC⁺ DCs as a proportion of all CD86⁺ CD83⁺ lymph node DCs in healthy monkeys (n = 4) and monkeys with acute SIV infection (n = 7) or AIDS (n = 3) are shown. The proportion of FITC⁺ DCs in lymph nodes of monkeys with AIDS is lower than that in healthy animals (P < .05). Each circle represents a different animal, and horizontal bars represent the mean. (C-H) Representative images of HLA-DR⁺ LCs in epidermal sheets of unpainted control skin (C,E,G) and FITC-sensitized skin (D,F,H) from healthy monkeys (C-D), and monkeys with acute SIV infection (E-F) or AIDS (G-H). Original magnification × 400.