Objective : To determine the relationship between cell-associated infectious HIV-I virus and HIV-1 provirus with or without antiretroviral therapy. Methods : 30 patients (CDC class A : n = 10, CDC class B : n = 8, CDC class C : n = 12 ; mean CD4 cell counts: 250/mm(3)) having started antiretroviral therapy (AZT +/- ddl or ddC) were studied. Peripheral blood samples were collected at W-2, W0 and W4. Quantitative coculture using ANRS consensus technique was performed on fresh specimens. HIV-1 proviral DNA level was assessed by end-point dilution PCR using Amplicor TM (Roche) and a robotic workstation (Beckman). Results : 1/ Natural variability (W-2 vs W0) was 0.5 log10 and 0.3 log10 for cell-associated infectious virus and proviral DNA respectively. 2/Baseline levels of cell-associated infectious virus and proviral DNA were correlated (r=0.66, p=0.0001). 3/ One month after initiation of therapy a 1.12 log10 decrease in infectious virus vs only a 0.24 log10 decrease in proviral DNA were observed. Conclusions : 1/ PBMC quantitative culture and HIV-1 proviral DNA quantitation were well correlated before treatment. 2/ After initiating therapy with nucleoside analogs a marked decrease in cell-associated infectious virus contrasted with little change in HIV-1 proviral DNA levels.

Cells, Cultured HIV Infections/BLOOD/*VIROLOGY HIV-1/GENETICS/*ISOLATION & PURIF Human Monocytes/*VIROLOGY Proviruses/GENETICS ABSTRACT

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