title: Evaluation of distinct blood lymphocyte populations in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected subjects in the absence or presence of effective therapy.
abstract: Virus reservoirs can persist in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected subjects despite effective plasma virus suppression. To compare viral dynamics in the absence and presence of antiretroviral therapy, blood mononuclear cells from 19 subjects with high plasma RNA levels and 18 subjects following prolonged virus suppression were examined, by use of in situ hybridization, to detect virus RNA expression before and after in vitro T cell activation. This approach reveals circulating lymphocytes expressing HIV-1 RNA before activation and an increase in cells with detectable HIV-1 RNA transcription after in vitro activation. The frequencies of these 2 cell populations are strongly correlated with plasma virus load and appear to be stable once a new steady state is established during therapy. The frequency of viral RNA-positive cells is equivalent to the frequency of cells that produce infectious virus. Thus, in HIV-1-infected subjects there are distinct virus reservoirs comprising both latent and replication-active cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Derdeyn
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kilby
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Miralles
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sfakianos
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Saag
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Hockett
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Bucy
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005615:Freezing; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011533:Proviruses; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019562:Viral Load; D014775:Virus Activation; D017735:Virus Latency
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral