Factors associated with increased levels of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 DNA in semen.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected cells have been isolated from semen and may be a major source of transmissible virus. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to determine HIV proviral DNA load in cellular fractions of semen from 74 antiviral therapy-naive HIV-1-seropositive men and 53 paired blood samples. HIV-1 DNA was detected in 65% of semen (range: <10-5000 copies/mL) and 100% of blood samples (range: 20-2500 copies/mL). HIV-1 DNA copy numbers in semen correlated significantly with those in blood, but for most cases, the concentration of blood HIV-1 DNA was higher (mean blood-to-semen ratio = 2.9). Factors associated with elevated HIV-1 provirus levels in semen included reduced peripheral CD4 cell count and asymptomatic genital tract inflammation (>10(6) white blood cells/mL of semen). These data provide evidence that genital tract inflammation and reduced peripheral CD4 cell count may be associated with enhanced sexual transmission of HIV-1 because of increased numbers of HIV-1-infected cells in semen.
Xu
C
C
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Politch
J A
JA
Tucker
L
L
Mayer
K H
KH
Seage
G R
GR
Anderson
D J
DJ
D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load
D004279:DNA, Viral