Loss of hematopoietic progenitor cells CFU-GEMM, BFU-E, CFU-Mk, and CFU-GM in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)?

Hematological abnormalities have been found in the majority of patients with AIDS, in addition to immunological derangements [1]. Furthermore, treatment of opportunistic infections with folic acid antagonists and of neoplasms with cytostatic drugs is frequently complicated by profound thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and anemia, thus resulting in the withdrawal of the drugs. In the present study we therefore analyzed the hematopoietic progenitor cell compartments, using an in vitro culture system that allows colony formation by the pluripotent progenitor cells CFU-GEMM and by the unipotent erythroid progenitors BFU -E, the megakaryocytic progenitors CFU-Mk, and the granulocytic-monocytic progenitors CFU-GM [2].