title: Epstein-Barr and cytomegalovirus DNA salivary shedding correlate with long-term plasma HIV RNA detection in HIV-infected men who have sex with men.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA salivary shedding in HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) and to determine whether viro-immunological parameters and long-term (24 months) plasma HIV RNA (pHIV) detection may predict herpesviruses replication. A total of 193 HIV-positive MSM were consecutively recruited (mean CD4+ cell count 607 cells/mm(3) and mean nadir value 333 cells/mm(3) ); pHIV was analyzed for 24 months prior to saliva sampling: patients were categorized as successfully suppressed (SS) and not suppressed (NS). The EBV viral load was categorized as high viral load (HVL), intermediate (IVL), or low (LVL), CMV DNA as positive or negative. NS patients experienced both herpesviruses detectability more frequently respect to SS patients (P = 0.034); conversely, no salivary shedding was more frequent in SS patients (P = 0.014). HVL EBV was more frequent in NS patients than in SS subjects (P = 0.038 for isolated EBV detection and P = 0.001 when CMV shedding was associated). NS subjects with HVL EBV had a median pHIV of 43,820 copies/ml, significantly higher respect to IVL and LVL patients (P = 0.027 and P = 0.0005, respectively). CMV shedding was mostly associated to EBV shedding. NS patients showed a significantly higher frequency of saliva HVL EBV detection compared to SS patients; moreover, NS patients with HVL EBV had a higher pHIV respect to those with IVL and LVL shedding. Our results suggest that a successful pHIV suppression could reduce the burden of salivary EBV replication and likely the risk of herpesviruses-related cancers.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Unit, Padova Hospital, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Renzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scaggiante
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andreis
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franchin
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Unit, Padova Hospital, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franzetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio
authors.affiliation: Unit of Infectious Diseases, University "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torti
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mengoli
authors.affiliation: Center of Diffusive Diseases, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cruciani
authors.affiliation: Clinical Infectious Diseases, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sarmati
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palù
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Saverio Giuseppe
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Parisi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication; D017201:Virus Shedding
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: CMV DNA; EBV DNA; HIV RNA; high EBV viral load; saliva