Macrophage HIV-1 infection in duodenal tissue of patients on long term HAART

A Zalar, MI Figueroa, B Ruibal-Ares, P Baré, P Cahn… - Antiviral research, 2010 - Elsevier
A Zalar, MI Figueroa, B Ruibal-Ares, P Baré, P Cahn, MME de Bracco, L Belmonte
Antiviral research, 2010Elsevier
Mucosal surfaces play a major role in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)
transmission and pathogenesis. Since the role of intestinal macrophages as viral reservoirs
during chronic HIV-1 infection has not been elucidated, we investigated the effects of
successful therapy on intestinal HIV-1 persistence. Intestinal macrophage infection was
demonstrated by the expression of p24 antigen by flow cytometry and by the presence of
proviral DNA, assessed by PCR. Proviral DNA was detected in duodenal mucosa of HIV …
Mucosal surfaces play a major role in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission and pathogenesis. Since the role of intestinal macrophages as viral reservoirs during chronic HIV-1 infection has not been elucidated, we investigated the effects of successful therapy on intestinal HIV-1 persistence. Intestinal macrophage infection was demonstrated by the expression of p24 antigen by flow cytometry and by the presence of proviral DNA, assessed by PCR. Proviral DNA was detected in duodenal mucosa of HIV-infected patients under treatment with undetectable plasma viral load. These findings confirm that intestinal macrophages can act as viral reservoirs and permit HIV-1 production even after viral suppression following antiretroviral therapy.
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