HIV-1 messenger RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells as an early marker of risk for progression to AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
To establish human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells as a marker of risk for progression to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in a large cohort of HIV-infected persons followed for a prolonged period.


METHODS
Retrospective testing of cryopreserved, coded specimens.


METHODS
Research laboratories at the New York Blood Center and the Rockefeller University.


METHODS
150 homosexual men infected with HIV-1 who did not have an AIDS diagnosis at the time of testing.


METHODS
Multiply spliced and unspliced HIV-1 mRNAs in total peripheral blood mononuclear cell RNA were quantitated using reverse transcriptase-initiated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and compared with other laboratory data and clinical outcome during the subsequent 8 years.


RESULTS
Although HIV-1 mRNA expression generally correlated with immunologic status, it was associated with future disease progression independently of CD4+ cell counts or their rate of decrease at the time of sampling. The association of HIV-1 mRNA with disease progression in persons with CD4+ cell counts higher than the median (> 624 cells/mm3) was particularly noteworthy; further variation in the CD4+ cell counts within this group was not prognostically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of HIV-1 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is a strong independent marker for future HIV disease progression, even in persons with normal T-cell subsets.
Saksela
K
K
Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA.
Stevens
C E
CE
Rubinstein
P
P
Taylor
P E
PE
Baltimore
D
D
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018450:Disease Progression; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers; D012333:RNA, Messenger