HIV-1 DNA is detected in bone marrow populations containing CD4+ T cells but is not found in purified CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells in most patients on antiretroviral therapy

J Infect Dis. 2012 Mar 15;205(6):1014-8. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jir884. Epub 2012 Jan 24.

Abstract

Identifying cellular reservoirs of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) is critical to finding a cure for HIV-1. In addition to resting CD4(+) T cells, CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells have been proposed as another reservoir. We obtained bone marrow aspirates from 11 patients on ART who had undetectable plasma HIV-1 RNA. HIV-1 DNA was detected in CD4(+) T cells from peripheral blood in all patients and from bone marrow cellular fractions containing T cells in most patients. We did not find HIV-1 DNA in highly purified CD34(+) populations using either a sensitive real-time polymerase chain reaction assay or a coculture assay for replication-competent HIV-1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antigens, CD34 / analysis
  • Bone Marrow / chemistry
  • Bone Marrow / virology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / chemistry
  • Bone Marrow Cells / virology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / chemistry
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology*
  • DNA, Viral / isolation & purification*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification
  • HIV-1 / pathogenicity
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / chemistry
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / virology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • Antigens, CD34
  • DNA, Viral