Macrophage HIV-1 infection in duodenal tissue of patients on long term HAART.
Mucosal surfaces play a major role in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission and pathogenesis. Since the role of intestinal macrophages as viral reservoirs during chronic HIV-1 infection has not been elucidated, we investigated the effects of successful therapy on intestinal HIV-1 persistence. Intestinal macrophage infection was demonstrated by the expression of p24 antigen by flow cytometry and by the presence of proviral DNA, assessed by PCR. Proviral DNA was detected in duodenal mucosa of HIV-infected patients under treatment with undetectable plasma viral load. These findings confirm that intestinal macrophages can act as viral reservoirs and permit HIV-1 production even after viral suppression following antiretroviral therapy.
Zalar
Alberto
A
Gastroenterology Unit, Hospital Juan A Fernandez, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Figueroa
Maria Ines
MI
Ruibal-Ares
Beatriz
B
Baré
Patricia
P
Cahn
Pedro
P
de Bracco
Maria Marta de E
MM
Belmonte
Liliana
L
D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004386:Duodenum / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics
D004279:DNA, Viral; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24