Susceptibility of human peripheral blood dendritic cells to infection by human immunodeficiency virus.

Preparations of human peripheral blood dendritic cells have been infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). After 5 days in culture they were examined by electron microscopy. Virus was observed budding from the plasma membrane of dendritic cells and mature virions were observed on the cell surface. In addition, a second cell type, similar in morphology to 'classical' dendritic cells but containing numerous cytoplasmic granules, was also found to support replication of the virus. We speculate that the growth of HIV in dendritic cells could cause immunosuppression by impairing antigen presentation.