Giant Cells

Synonyms

Cell, Giant

Cell, Multinucleated Giant

Cells, Giant

Cells, Multinucleated Giant

Giant Cell

Giant Cell, Multinucleated

Giant Cells, Multinucleated

Multinucleated Giant Cell

Multinucleated Giant Cells

Polykaryocyte

Polykaryocytes

Syncytia

Syncytium

Multinucleated masses produced by the fusion of many cells; often associated with viral infections. In AIDS, they are induced when the envelope glycoprotein of the HIV virus binds to the CD4 antigen of uninfected neighboring T4 cells. The resulting syncytium leads to cell death and thus may account for the cytopathic effect of the virus.