Direct quantification of cell-associated HIV DNA in isolated rectal and blood memory CD4 T cells revealed their similar and low infection levels in long-term treated HIV-infected patients

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2013 Mar 1;62(3):255-9. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0b013e318282537f.

Abstract

To evaluate the contribution of CD4 T cells from blood and gut compartments to the HIV-1 reservoir, we directly quantified cell-associated HIV DNA in isolated rectal (R-) and peripheral blood (PB-) memory CD4 T cells from 11 successfully long-term treated patients. Proportion of activated (CD25(+); CD69(+); and HLA-DR(+)) and CCR5 expressing CD4 T cells were markedly higher in rectal tissue compared with blood. However, HIV-1 infection levels of R- and PB-memory CD4 T cells did not significantly differ (medians: 4000 and 2100 copies per million cells) after effective long-term viral control, suggesting that each of these 2 compartments does not contribute in a similar fashion to the total HIV reservoir.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Disease Reservoirs / virology*
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HLA-DR Antigens / analysis
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory / immunology
  • Receptors, CCR5 / metabolism
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • Receptors, CCR5