The role of HIV-1 DNA as an additional marker of HIV-1 infection.
After the infusion of HIV-1 virus into a host cell, RNA is reverse transcribed to dsDNA, which persists intracellular to the infected cell in a variety of forms. Numerous in-house assays have been developed for the quantification of the different cellular HIV-1 DNA forms; these implement conventional or real-time PCR methodology. In this review we discuss recent findings about the longitudinal monitoring of cell-associated HIV-1 DNA in naïve and pre-treated patients, as a marker for clinical progression, treatment initiation and long-term success of HAART. These findings underline the importance of monitoring HIV-1 DNA in clinical practice, in addition to HIV-RNA and CD4(+) T Cell counts, for the better assessment of HIV-treatment and disease progression. The lack of a standardized real-time PCR assay is major impediment to more wide-spread HIV-1 DNA monitoring.
Beloukas
Apostolos
A
Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, Athens University, Greece. ampelouk@med.uoa.gr
Paraskevis
Dimitrios
D
Psichogiou
Mina
M
Hatzakis
Angelos
A
D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D011533:Proviruses / Q000302:isolation & purification
D004279:DNA, Viral