HIV DNA and dementia in treatment-naïve HIV-1-infected individuals in Bangkok, Thailand.
High HIV-1 DNA (HIV DNA) levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) correlate with HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD) in patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). If this relationship also exists among HAART-naïve patients, then HIV DNA may be implicated in the pathogenesis of HAD. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between HIV DNA and cognition in subjects naïve to HAART in a neuro AIDS cohort in Bangkok, Thailand. Subjects with and without HAD were recruited and matched for age, gender, education, and CD4 cell count. PBMC and cellular subsets were analyzed for HIV DNA using real-time PCR. The median log(10) HIV DNA copies per 10(6) PBMC for subjects with HAD (n=15) was 4.27, which was higher than that found in subjects without dementia (ND; n=15), 2.28, p<0.001. This finding was unchanged in a multivariate model adjusting for plasma HIV-1 RNA levels. From a small subset of individuals, in which adequate number of cells were available, more HIV DNA was in monocytes/macrophages from those with HAD compared to those with ND. These results are consistent with a previous report among HAART-experienced subjects, thus further implicating HIV DNA in the pathogenesis of HAD.
Shiramizu
Bruce
B
Hawaii AIDS Clinical Research Program, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA. bshirami@hawaii.edu
Ratto-Kim
Silvia
S
Sithinamsuwan
Pasiri
P
Nidhinandana
Samart
S
Thitivichianlert
Sataporn
S
Watt
George
G
deSouza
Mark
M
Chuenchitra
Thippawan
T
Sukwit
Suchitra
S
Chitpatima
Suwicha
S
Robertson
Kevin
K
Paul
Robert
R
Shikuma
Cecilia
C
Valcour
Victor
V
D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003071:Cognition; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000032:analysis
D004279:DNA, Viral; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D017452:Receptors, IgG