HIV-1 entry into quiescent primary lymphocytes: molecular analysis reveals a labile, latent viral structure.
Productive infection of human T lymphocytes by HIV-1 is dependent upon proliferation of the infected cell. Nonproliferating quiescent T cells can be infected by HIV-1 and harbor the virus in an inactive state until subsequent mitogenic stimulation. We use a modification of the polymerase chain reaction method, which is both sensitive and quantitative, to demonstrate that HIV-1 DNA synthesis is initiated in infected quiescent T cells at levels comparable with those of activated T cells. However, unlike that of activated T cells, the viral genome is not completely reverse transcribed in quiescent cells. Although this viral DNA structure can persist in quiescent cells as a latent form, it is labile. We discuss the lability of this HIV-1 DNA structure in relation to a "self-restricting persistent infection" by HIV-1 and propose that this may explain the low percentage of infected cells in the circulation of AIDS patients.
Zack
J A
JA
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UCLA School of Medicine.
Arrigo
S J
SJ
Weitsman
S R
SR
Go
A S
AS
Haislip
A
A
Chen
I S
IS
D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015870:Gene Expression; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012367:RNA, Viral