P24 antigen detection, viral isolation, DNA-PCR and in vitro antibody production for the diagnosis of HIV-1 latent infection in heterosexual women at high risk for HIV-1 infection.
BACKGROUND
The report of the existence of at-risk seronegative subjects, latently infected with HIV-1 and producing "in vitro" HIV-1 specific antibodies, prompted the authors to evaluate extensively twenty-five heterosexual HIV-1 seronegative women at high risk for HIV-1 infection.


METHODS
The capability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from such subjects to produce "in vitro" HIV-1 specific antibodies after pokeweed-mitogen stimulation, was studied. Silent HIV-1 infection was investigated by HIV-1 DNA PCR, viral isolation and serum p24 Ag detection at entry and after 6 and 12 months.


RESULTS
Three seroconversions took place within 12 months, but no HIV-1 infections were found in the absence of detectable serum anti HIV-1 antibodies, even in subjects who apparently produced such antibodies in vitro. The antibodies produced in vitro by the seronegative women studied appeared of narrow specificity, reacting mainly with gp 160/120 envelope glycoproteins.


CONCLUSIONS
A strong concordance was found between the serological status and the other markers for HIV-1 infection, suggesting that the phenomenon of HIV-1 "latent infection" is a very rare event, if it occurs at all. Seronegative women sexually exposed to the virus may produce in vitro anti HIV-1 antibodies of narrow specificity in the absence of other signs of infection and this phenomenon might be related to an anamnestic response to the virus.
Di Stefano
M
M
Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Italy.
Fiore
J R
JR
Chironna
M
M
Buccoliero
G
G
Romanelli
C
C
La Grasta
L
L
Quarto
M
M
Angarano
G
G
Pastore
G
G
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000032:analysis*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24