HIV-1 viral DNA load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from seroconverters and long-term infected individuals.
OBJECTIVE
To determine viral DNA load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HIV-1-infected individuals.


METHODS
HIV-1 copy numbers were determined using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the PCR-aided template titration assay (PATTY). PATTY utilizes an internal plasmid control DNA, which is amplified within the same tube and using the same primers as the PBMC target DNA. HIV-1 copy numbers were confirmed by limiting-dilution PCR analysis.


RESULTS
PBMC viral load of 19 long-term (greater than 4 years) HIV-1-infected individuals ranged from 0.8 to 100 copies per 10(3) PBMC. Significantly higher copy numbers were found among p24-antigen-positive than among p24-antigen-negative individuals. In addition, the PBMC viral load of two HIV-1-infected individuals was monitored during the first 3 months after acute infection. For both patients, the HIV-1 copy numbers were shown to peak at the time of HIV-1-antibody seroconversion and decline subsequently (range, 0.6-10 copies per 10(3) PBMC).


CONCLUSIONS
PATTY is a useful method for assessing the HIV-1 copy numbers in PBMC DNA. Viral DNA load peaks shortly after infection and reaches an individual specific level that is probably stable within a few months of infection. Viral DNA load in PBMC varies widely among long-term HIV-1-infected individuals.
Jurriaans
S
S
Human Retrovirus Laboratory, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Dekker
J T
JT
de Ronde
A
A
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
D004279:DNA, Viral