title: Frequent and early in utero HIV-1 infection.
abstract: We have investigated in utero human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission by analyzing human fetal tissues for the presence of viral DNA by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thirty three fetal samples: thymus, spleen, and peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PMBC) were obtained at abortion (16 to 24 weeks) from HIV-1-infected asymptomatic women. The results of HIV-1-DNA detection were considered only in 9 cases where contamination of fetal samples by infected mother cells could be definitely eliminated by using primers specific for a polymorphic cellular locus. PCR allowed the identification of HIV-1 DNA sequences in 6/8, 8/9, and 5/9 of specimens from thymus, spleen, and PMBC, respectively. Positive results were shown in fetuses as early as 16 weeks. Viral cultures as well as assays for serum p24 HIV-1 antigen were negative in 9.9 and 33/33 tested, respectively. Therefore, our results indicate early and frequent in utero HIV-1 infection. Different patterns of viral activation after birth might then lead to either rapid or delayed onset of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U75-CHU Laennec-Necker, Paris, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Courgnaud
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lauré
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brossard
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bignozzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goudeau
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bréchot
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D005333:Fetus / Q000382:microbiology; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D015488:HIV Antigens