Relationship between pre-existing viral reservoirs and the re-emergence of plasma viremia after discontinuation of highly active anti-retroviral therapy [see comments]

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Relationship between pre-existing viral reservoirs and the re-emergence of plasma viremia after discontinuation of highly active anti-retroviral therapy [see comments]

Nat Med. 2000 Jul;6(7):757-61. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/20348025
Chun TW; Davey RT Jr; Ostrowski M; Shawn Justement J; Engel D; Mullins JI; Fauci AS; Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and; Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,; Maryland 20892, USA. twchun@nih.gov

Abstract: We examined the pathogenic significance of the latent viral reservoir in the resting CD4+ T cell compartment of HIV-1-infected individuals as well as its involvement in the rebound of plasma viremia after discontinuation of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). Using heteroduplex mobility and tracking assays, we show that the detectable pool of latently infected, resting CD4+ T cells does not account entirely for the early rebounding plasma HIV in infected individuals in whom HAART has been discontinued. In the majority of patients examined, the rebounding plasma virus was genetically distinct from both the cell-associated HIV RNA and the replication-competent virus within the detectable pool of latently infected, resting CD4 + T cells. These results indicate the existence of other persistent HIV reservoirs that could prompt rapid emergence of plasma viremia after cessation of HAART and underscore the necessity to develop therapies directed toward such populations of infected cells.

Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE Adult CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/VIROLOGY Human HIV Infections/BLOOD/*DRUG THERAPY/*VIROLOGY *HIV-1 Middle Age Recurrence RNA, Viral/BLOOD *Viremia *Virus Latency Virus Replication
Comment in: Nat Med 2000 Jul;6(7):736-7
001030
A00A1116

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