title: Comparison of HIV DNA and RNA in gut-associated lymphoid tissue of HIV-infected controllers and noncontrollers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  HIV-infected controllers have provided novel insights into mechanisms of viral control. We investigated the degree to which HIV DNA and RNA are present in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) of controllers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Colorectal biopsy pieces were obtained from five untreated noncontrollers, five ART-suppressed patients, and nine untreated controllers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rectal HIV DNA was lower in controllers (median 496 copies/10(6) CD4 T cells) than in untreated noncontrollers (117483 copies/10(6) CD4+ T cells, P = 0.001) and ART-suppressed patients (6116 copies/10(6) CD4 T cells, P = 0.004). Similarly, rectal HIV RNA was lower in controllers (19 copies/10(6) CD4 T cells) than in noncontrollers (15210 copies/10(6) CD4+ T cells, P = 0.001) and ART-suppressed patients (1625 copies/10(6) CD4+ T cells, P = 0.0599). Rectal HIV RNA/DNA ratios were not statistically different between the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite being able to maintain very low plasma HIV RNA levels in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-infected controllers have readily measurable levels of HIV DNA and RNA in GALT. As expected, controllers had lower rectal HIV DNA and RNA compared with untreated noncontrollers and ART-suppressed individuals. Compared with the mechanisms of 'natural' viral control of controllers, long-term ART does not reduce the total HIV reservoir to the level of controllers.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Medicine bDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California cSan Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Hiroyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hatano
authors.forename: Ma
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Somsouk
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harvill
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gilman
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoh
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Jeffrey N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Joseph K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Steven G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Deeks
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Yukl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003106:Colon / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D020276:HIV Long-Term Survivors; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000821:virology*; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012007:Rectum / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral