Detection of human immunodeficiency virus DNA and RNA in semen by the polymerase chain reaction

Article Abstract:

AIDS is caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The virus attacks and destroys cells in the immune system, diminishing the body's ability to fight infection. HIV is present in the blood and semen, and can be transmitted from person to person. Intravenous drugs users and homosexual men have the greatest risk of contracting the virus. In recent years, the number of reports of heterosexual women with HIV infection has been increasing. It is becoming apparent that there is more to learn about the different modes of HIV transmission. Although studies have shown that RNA and DNA (the genetic material) from HIV are present in semen, it is less clear as to whether they are present in sperm. The semen can be divided into three parts: the seminal fluid, the sperm and the nonsperm cells (NSMC). DNA from the virus has been found in the seminal fluid and in NSMC. This article describes the results of a study designed to determine if HIV is present in sperm. Semen samples were collected from 23 men who had positive blood tests for HIV infection. The sperm and NSMC were separated from the semen, and then the DNA was extracted from the sperm and NSMC. The DNA from the sperm and NSMC samples were tested to see if they contained DNA from HIV. Semen fluid samples were tested to see if they contained RNA from the virus. This was done using a procedure called the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This technique is very sensitive and can be used to detect extremely small amounts of viral DNA or RNA. Sixty-five percent of the seminal fluid samples contained HIV RNA, 74 percent of the NSMC samples contained HIV DNA, and none of the sperm samples contained HIV DNA. These findings suggest that sperm are not likely to be involved in the transmission of HIV. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Analysis, DNA, Disease transmission, Semen

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Measurement of HIV virus load and genotypic resistance by gene amplification in asymptomatic subjects treated with combination therapy

Article Abstract:

Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may be an effective means of assessing drug efficacy in HIV patients. Normally, levels of CD4 T-cells, which are white blood cells depleted in HIV infection, are used to evaluate treatment response. Increases in CD4 T-cell counts may be transitory however, and may not indicate actual changes in the degree of infection. Five HIV-positive patients were treated with a combination of the drugs zidovudine and didanosine. Average CD4 T-cell counts rose from 390 to 505 cells per cubic millimeter after six months of treatment and then dropped to 383 cells per cubic millimeter by 12 months. However, copies of HIV RNA, as measured by PCR, fell from 2,170 copies per millimeter to an undetectable level by one month and remained undetectable after one year. PCR is a simple, cheap procedure and has the added benefit of permitting evaluation in asymptomatic patients.

Evaluation, Antiviral agents, Gene amplification

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Quantification and comparison of HIV-1 proviral load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and isolated CD4+ T cells

Article Abstract:

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may be an effective method for determining the amount of HIV proviral DNA in CD4+ T-cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Proviral DNA is viral DNA that has been incorporated into human genes inside a cell. PCR was used to measure the amount of HIV proviral DNA in CD4+ T-cells and PBMC from 55 patients suffering from HIV infection: 25 who had been treated with zidovudine (AZT) and 30 who had not been treated. The number of copies of HIV varied from one copy per 10,000 T-cells in patients in the early stages of infection to 1 copy per 10 cells in patients in more advanced stages of infection. The amount of proviral DNA measured inside PBMCs was similar to the amounts measured inside of CD4+ T-cells. Quantitative PCR can measure very small amounts of DNA.

Infection, Monocytes, Lymphocytes

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