Constant mean viral copy number per infected cell in tissues regardless of high, low, or undetectable plasma HIV RNA.

ABSTRACT: Quantitative analysis of the relationship between virus expression and disease outcome has been critical for understanding HIV-1 pathogenesis. Yet the amount of viral RNA contained within an HIV-expressing cell and the relationship between the number of virus-producing cells and plasma virus load has not been established or reflected in models of viral dynamics. We report here a novel strategy for the coordinated analysis of virus expression in lymph node specimens. The results obtained for patients with a broad range of plasma viral loads before and after antiretroviral therapy reveal a constant mean viral (v)RNA copy number (3.6 log10 copies) per infected cell, regardless of plasma virus load or treatment status. In addition, there was a significant but nonlinear direct correlation betwe

SUBMITTER: Hockett RD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2193638 | biostudies-literature | 1999 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature