Few infected CD4+ T cells but a high proportion of replication-competent provirus copies in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.
The virus load in CD4+ T cells from six asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals was determined by limiting-dilution analysis with a sensitive virus isolation procedure and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Both methods allowed detection of one HIV-1-infected cell among 10(5) uninfected cells. The number of provirus-containing CD4+ T cells was found to be 1 per 4,000 to 150,000 (median, 1 per 29,000), as determined by virus isolation and 1 per 2,500 to 26,000 (median, 1 per 12,000), as determined by PCR. Infected cells contained an average of 1 to 2 provirus copies, and a high proportion of the provirus copies (1 in 1 to 1 in 6; median, 1 in 2) were replication competent. The results suggest that only a few CD4+ T cells are likely to be lost as a direct consequence of the presence of HIV-1 in infected cells in asymptomatic individuals and that additional mechanisms may contribute to the depletion of CD4+ T cells observed in vivo.
Brinchmann
J E
JE
Institute of Transplantation Immunology, National Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Albert
J
J
Vartdal
F
F
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011533:Proviruses / Q000254:growth & development; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014779:Virus Replication
D004279:DNA, Viral