2-LTR circular viral DNA as a marker for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in vivo.
The unintegrated viral DNA found in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection includes linear and circular forms. We targeted the circular form containing two copies of the viral long terminal repeat (2-LTR circle) and developed specific assays to detect this molecule in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-infected patients. In vitro HIV-1 infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed rapid accumulation and rapid decay of 2-LTR circular viral DNA. Examination of 2-LTR circular viral DNA levels provides a view of spreading infection based on a viral DNA form that is structurally distinct and has a known, short half-life in infected cells. In patients not receiving antiviral therapy, the levels of 2-LTR circular viral DNA and total viral DNA were significantly correlated to CD4 cell counts. Similar correlations were not observed in patients receiving zidovudine (AZT), didanosine (ddA), or zalcitabine (ddC).
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
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Pauza
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Trivedi
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McKechnie
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Richman
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Graziano
D001483:Base Sequence; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
D015415:Biomarkers; D004270:DNA, Circular; D004279:DNA, Viral