Residual HIV-RNA levels persist for up to 2.5 years in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients on potent antiretroviral therapy.
The long-term response of 10 asymptomatic, antiretroviral therapy-naive HIV-1-infected patients to potent combination antiretroviral therapy was characterized by monitoring levels of HIV-1 RNA in plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and lymphoid tissue using highly sensitive HIV-1 RNA assays. Although plasma viral loads were continuously suppressed to levels below 50 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml for up to 2.5 years (60-128 weeks), HIV-1 RNA was still detectable at very low levels (1 to 49 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml) in 25% of the samples. In corresponding PBMC specimens, residual HIV-RNA was detectable in as much as 91% of samples tested (1 to 420 HIV-1 RNA copies/microg total RNA). Similarly, HIV-1 RNA levels in lymphoid tissue also remained detectable at a high frequency (86%). A highly significant correlation was demonstrated between therapy-induced change in PBMC HIV-1 RNA levels and change in plasma HIV-1 RNA levels (r2 = 0.69; p = 0.003). These findings support the concept that measurement of HIV-1 RNA in the easily accessible PBMC compartment is relevant for evaluating the potency of current and future antiretroviral therapies.
Fischer
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. marek.fischer@dim.usz.ch
Günthard
H F
HF
Opravil
M
M
Joos
B
B
Huber
W
W
Bisset
L R
LR
Ott
P
P
Böni
J
J
Weber
R
R
Cone
R W
RW
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral