Comparison of HIV-1 DNA in different parts of early antiretroviral treatment patients

Abstract

Objective To study HIV-1 DNA levels in different parts of HIV patients during the early stage of antiretroviral therapy. Methods The peripheral blood, gut associated lymphoid tissues and lymph nodes samples were collected before and 12 weeks after treatment in regular follow-up HIV-1/AIDS patients in Beijing Youan Hospital (n=11).The average age was 39 years old (25 to 55).Mononuclear Cells were isolated by density gradient centrifugation and then used DNA extraction kit to extract DNA.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to examine HIV-1 DNA copy-number.Non-parametric test was used to analyse the differences of HIV-1 DNA copy numbers among groups. Results Before treatment, HIV-1 DNA copy-number in both gut associated lymphoid tissues (10 714±2043) copies/106 cells and lymph nodes (9145±1202) copies/106 cells were higher than that in the peripheral blood (66±8) copies/106 cells (U=0.00，P 0.05).After 12 weeks of treatment, HIV-1 DNA copy-number in both gut associated lymphoid tissues (1701±790) copies/106 cells and lymph node (11 591±1781) copies/106 cells were higher than the peripheral blood (18±3) copies/106 cells (Z=-2.934，P<0.05).There was a significant reduction of DNA copy-number in gut associated lymphoid tissues and peripheral blood after treatment（Z=-2.934，P<0.05）. Conclusion Gut associated lymphoid tissues and lymph nodes may be important latent reservoirs for HIV-1 DNA.（Clin J Lab Med，2012,35：453-456） Key words: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Antiretroviral treatment，highly active; Lymphoid tissue; Lymph nodes; HIV-1; DNA，viral