J Korean Med Sci.  2009 Feb;24(1):152-154. 10.3346/jkms.2009.24.1.152.

Factors Associated with HIV-1 Proviral DNA Loads in Patients with Undetectable Plasma RNA Load

• Choi JY
• Song YG
• Kim YH
• Kim CO
• Kim MS
• Chin BS
• Han SH
• Choi SH
• Lee HS
• Jeong SJ
• Choi H
• Kim JM

• KMID: 1794422
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2009.24.1.152

Abstract

To evaluate factors associated with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) proviral DNA load, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 36 chronically HIV-1- infected individuals with undetectable plasma viral RNA. We used real-time polymerase chain reaction to determine the number of HIV-1 proviral DNA copies per 10(6) peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The mean level of plasma viral RNA when the CD4+ T cell count was above 500 cells/microliter without highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was significantly associated with proviral DNA load at the time of undetectable plasma HIV RNA with HAART. Strategies to reduce the level of plasma viral RNA when patients' CD4+ T cell counts are above 500 cells/microliter without HAART could help reduce HIV-1 proviral DNA load.

Keyword

HIV; HIV Infections; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Proviruses

MeSH Terms

Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/virology
Cross-Sectional Studies
DNA, Viral/*analysis
Female
HIV Infections/drug therapy
HIV-1/*genetics
Humans
Male
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Proviruses/*genetics
RNA, Viral/blood

Reference

1. Palella FJ Jr, Delaney KM, Moorman AC, Loveless MO, Fuhrer J, Satten GA, Aschman DJ, Holmberg SD. Declining morbidity and mortality among patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. HIV Outpatient Study Investigators. N Engl J Med. 1998. 338:853–860.

2. Chun TW, Stuyver L, Mizell SB, Ehler LA, Mican JA, Baseler M, Lloyd AL, Nowak MA, Fauci AS. Presence of an inducible HIV-1 latent reservoir during highly active antiretroviral therapy. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1997. 94:13193–13197.

3. Chun TW, Davey RT Jr, Ostrowski M, Shawn Justement J, Engel D, Mullins JI, Fauci AS. Relationship between pre-existing viral reservoirs and the re-emergence of plasma viremia after discontinuation of highly active anti-retroviral therapy. Nat Med. 2000. 6:757–761.

4. Finzi D, Hermankova M, Pierson T, Carruth LM, Buck C, Chaisson RE, Quinn TC, Chadwick K, Margolick J, Brookmeyer R, Gallant J, Markowitz M, Ho DD, Richman DD, Siliciano RF. Identification of a reservoir for HIV-1 in patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy. Science. 1997. 278:1295–1300.

5. Gibellini D, Vitone F, Schiavone P, Ponti C, La Placa M, Re MC. Quantitative detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) proviral DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by SYBR green real-time PCR technique. J Clin Virol. 2004. 29:282–289.

6. Chun TW, Justement JS, Pandya P, Hallahan CW, McLaughlin M, Liu S, Ehler LA, Kovacs C, Fauci AS. Relationship between the size of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reservoir in peripheral blood CD4+ T cells and CD4+:CD8+ T cell ratios in aviremic HIV-1-infected individuals receiving long-term highly active antiretroviral therapy. J Infect Dis. 2002. 185:1672–1676.

7. Yilmaz G. Diagnosis of HIV infection and laboratory monitoring of its therapy. J Clin Virol. 2001. 21:187–196.

8. Clementi M, Menzo S, Bagnarelli P, Valenza A, Paolucci S, Sampaolesi R, Manzin A, Varaldo PE. Clinical use of quantitative molecular methods in studying human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1996. 9:135–147.

9. Coste J, Montes B, Reynes J, Peeters M, Segarra C, Vendrell JP, Delaporte E, Segondy M. Comparative evaluation of three assays for the quantitation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA in plasma. J Med Virol. 1996. 50:293–302.

10. Finzi D, Blankson J, Siliciano JD, Margolick JB, Chadwick K, Pierson T, Smith K, Lisziewicz J, Lori F, Flexner C, Quinn TC, Chaisson RE, Rosenberg E, Walker B, Gange S, Gallant J, Siliciano RF. Latent infection of CD4+ T cells provides a mechanism for lifelong persistence of HIV-1, even in patients on effective combination therapy. Nat Med. 1999. 5:512–517.

11. Cavert W, Notermans DW, Staskus K, Wietgrefe SW, Zupancic M, Gebhard K, Henry K, Zhang ZQ, Mills R, McDade H, Schuwirth CM, Goudsmit J, Danner SA, Haase AT. Kinetics of response in lymphoid tissues to antiretroviral therapy of HIV-1 infection. Science. 1997. 276:960–964.

12. Chun TW, Justement JS, Moir S, Hallahan CW, Ehler LA, Liu S, McLaughlin M, Dybul M, Mican JM, Fauci AS. Suppression of HIV replication in the resting CD4+ T cell reservoir by autologous CD8+ T cells: implications for the development of therapeutic strategies. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2001. 98:253–258.