Aids: Tubuloreticular Structures (Trs), Cylindrical Confronting Cisternae (Ccc), and Related Alterations

TRS and CCC are endoplasmic reticulum membrane-derived structures seen in HIV-infected individuals in a variety of cell types. TRS (synonym: tubuloreticular inclusions) are 24-25 nm in diameter, branching tubules which are short or long and associated with the granular or smooth endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi complex, the perinuclear cistern, and annulate lamellae (Fig. 1-3, 8). The tubules are noticeably more stretched out in Kaposi's sarcoma endothelial cells, presumably by an increase of matrix material within the reticulum sac (Fig. 3). TRS consist of membranous components, including polypeptides, but lack nucleic acid.CCC (test tube and ring-shaped forms; curvilinear membranes) are formed by a concentric stacking of two or three cisterns of endoplasmic reticulum resembling nuclear membrane in mitosis (Fig. 7), but with the interposition between the opposing membranes of a layer of electron-dense material that is resistant to lipid solvents (Fig. 4,5,8).