title: In-depth analysis of compartmentalization of HIV-1 matrix protein p17 in PBMC and plasma.
abstract: HIV-1 p17 plays an important role in the virus life-cycle and disease pathogenesis. Recent studies indicated a high heterogeneity of p17. A high number of insertions in the p17 carboxy-terminal region have been more frequently detected in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), suggesting a role of altered p17 in lymphomagenesis. Based on p17 heterogeneity, possible PBMC/plasma compartmentalization of p17 variants was explored by ultra-deep pyrosequencing in five NHL patients. The high variability of p17 with insertions at the carboxy-terminal region was confirmed in plasma and observed for the first time in proviral genomes. Quasispecies compartmentalization was evident in 4/5 patients. Further studies are needed to define the possible role of p17 quasispecies compartmentalization in lymphomagenesis.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Selleri
authors.affiliation: Cancer Bio-Immunotherapy Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, IRCCS-National Cancer Institute, Aviano (PN), Italy.|University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dolcetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caccuri
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giombini
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rozera
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abbate
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mammone
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Immunology and Virology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, IRCCS-National Cancer Institute, Aviano (PN), Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zanussi
authors.affiliation: Cancer Bio-Immunotherapy Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, IRCCS-National Cancer Institute, Aviano (PN), Italy.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martorelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fiorentini
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Arnaldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Capobianchi
mesh_terms: D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015488:HIV Antigens; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C054858:p17 protein, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1
keywords: Compartmentalization; HIV-1 matrix protein; Non-Hodgkin lymphoma; Ultra-deep pyrosequencing; Viral quasispecies; p17