Correlates of latent and productive HIV type-1 infection in tonsillar CD4(+) T cells.
Correlates of virus load and characteristics of virus-producing cells in tonsillar tissue were investigated. Our results suggest that when less than 1:100 tonsillar CD4(+) T cells from individuals infected with HIV type-1 (HIV-1) contain replication competent provirus, the level of CD4(+) T cells in tonsils is comparable to that observed in uninfected individuals. Virus load at or above this level was associated with low CD4 cell numbers in tonsillar tissue. Only a few percent of all infected T cells in tonsillar tissue were active virus producers, with minor differences observed between individuals. Plasma viremia was found to correlate with infectious virus load in tonsillar tissue. With less than 1:1,000 of CD4 cells in lymphoid tissues being involved in active virus production, direct cytopathic effect by HIV-1 on infected CD4 cells is unlikely to fully explain the immunodeficiency seen in AIDS.
Rosok
B
B
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Centre for Research in Virology, N-5020 Bergen, Norway.
Brinchmann
J E
JE
Voltersvik
P
P
Olofsson
J
J
Bostad
L
L
Asjö
B
B
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load; D017735:Virus Latency