title: Impact of short-term HAART initiated during the chronic stage or shortly post-exposure on SIV infection of male genital organs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The male genital tract is suspected to constitute a viral sanctuary as persistent HIV shedding is found in the semen of a subset of HIV-infected men receiving effective antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The origin of this persistent shedding is currently unknown. Phylogenetic studies indicated that HIV in semen from untreated men arises from local sources and/or passive diffusion from the blood. We previously demonstrated in human and macaque low levels and localized infection of several semen-producing organs by HIV/SIV. Using a macaque model, this study investigates the impact of short term HAART (2-4 weeks) initiated either during the asymptomatic chronic stage or 4 h post-intravenous inoculation of SIVmac251 on the infection of male genital organs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Short term HAART during the chronic stage decreased blood viral load. No major impact of HAART was observed on SIV DNA levels in male genital organs using a sensitive nested PCR assay. Using in situ hybridization, SIV RNA+ cells were detected in all male genital tract organs from untreated and treated animals with undetectable blood viral load following HAART. Infected CD68+ myeloid cells and CD3+ T lymphocytes were detected pre- and post-HAART. In contrast, short term HAART initiated 4 h post-SIV exposure led to a drastic decrease of the male genital tissues infection, although it failed to prevent systemic infection. In both cases, HAART tended to decrease the number of CD3+ T cells in the male organs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that the established infection of male genital organs is not greatly impacted by short term HAART, whereas the same treatment during pre-acute phase of the infection efficiently impairs viral dissemination to the male genital tract. Further investigations are now needed to determine whether infection of male genital organs is responsible for long term persistent HIV shedding in semen despite HAART.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U1085-IRSET, Université de Rennes 1, Institut Fédératif de Recherche 140, Rennes, France. valvarado@tamu.edu
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Le Tortorec
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deleage
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Denis
authors.forename: Anne-Pascale
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Satie
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bourry
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Deureuddre-Bosquet
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roques
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Le Grand
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dejucq-Rainsford
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000821:virology*; D019469:Indinavir / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D019259:Lamivudine; D015215:Zidovudine; D019469:Indinavir