title: Merkel cell polyomavirus IgG antibody levels are associated with progression to AIDS among HIV-infected individuals.
abstract: The association of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) in immunocompromised individuals has been revealed in a number of surveys. The study of MCPyV specific antibody titers and viral loads in such patients has a great attraction for research groups interested in viral reactivation. In this cross-sectional study to evaluate MCPyV antibody titer, DNA prevalence and viral load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), we examined 205 HIV-1 infected patients and 100 un-infected controls. The HIV-1 infected patients divided into two groups (HIV/AIDS and non-AIDS) according to their CD4 status. Total IgG antibody titer against MCPyV was analyzed by virus like particle (VLP)-based enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Presence of MCPyV-DNA in subject's PBMCs was examined by quantitative real-time PCR assay. Levels of anti-MCPyV IgG in HIV/AIDS patients were significantly higher than those in non-AIDS HIV-infected and control subjects (p value = <0.001). The prevalence rate of MCPyV-DNA in PBMCs of HIV/AIDS, non-AIDS HIV-infected and un-infected controls were 17%, 16%, and 14% respectively. The MCPyV viral load among the groups ranged between 0.15 to 2.9 copies/103cells (median, 1.9 copies/103cells), with no significant difference between the studied populations (p value = 0.3).
authors.affiliation: Medical Lab Technology Department, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Rouhollah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vahabpour
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Niloofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naderi
authors.affiliation: Department of Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salehi-Vaziri
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohajel
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sadeghi
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Junction of Shahid Hemmat and Shahid Chamran Expressways, P.O. Box: 15785-6171, Tehran, 1449614535, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keyvani
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Junction of Shahid Hemmat and Shahid Chamran Expressways, P.O. Box: 15785-6171, Tehran, 1449614535, Iran. hrmonavari@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Seyed Hamidreza
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Monavari
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D059965:Merkel cell polyomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G