Document 2940
 DOCN  M94A2940
 TI    Studies on HIV infected individuals who are long term non-progressors.
       Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS).
 DT    9412
 AU    Graziosi C; Demarest JF; Vaccarezza M; Cohen OJ; Pantaleo G; Fauci AS;
       NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):19 (abstract no. 049B). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369635
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To analyze viral burden and viral replication in peripheral
       blood (PB) and lymph node (LN) from HIV infected individuals who are
       long term non-progressors (LTNP). METHODS: Viral burden (i.e. frequency
       of HIV infected cells) and viral replication were assessed by
       semiquantitative DNA and RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays.
       Virus distribution in lymph node and tissue architecture was determined
       by in situ hybridization in combination with immunoperoxidase. RESULTS:
       Eight LTNP (i.e. infected for more than 7 years, CD4+ cell slope > or =
       0, no antiretroviral therapy) were studied. Viral burden and viral
       replication were significantly lower, (at least 1 log), in both
       mononuclear cells isolated from PB and LN of LTNP compared to the levels
       observed in PB and LN of 20 normal progressors. Trapping of virus in the
       follicular dendritic cell network was observed in six of eight cases. In
       one case, only individual cells expressing HIV were detected, and one
       case was negative for both cell-associated and extracellular (i.e.
       trapped) virus. The degree of follicular hyperplasia was less in LN from
       LTNP compared to progressors and no sign of tissue involution were
       observed. Virus isolated from PB and LN of LTNP is infectious and
       replication competent. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Lymphoid tissue
       architecture is preserved in LTNP. Viral burden and viral replication
       are markedly decreased; however, the virus that is present is
       replication competent and infectious.
 DE    Human  HIV/GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT/*ISOLATION & PURIF/PATHOGENICITY  HIV
       Infections/*MICROBIOLOGY  Immunoenzyme Techniques  In Situ Hybridization
       Polymerase Chain Reaction  *Virus Replication  MEETING ABSTRACT

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