Title:Persistent But Not Replicating HIV-1 Cell-Associated DNA in Semen of Long-Term ART Experienced Men
Volume: 14
Issue: 4
Author(s): Amandine Gagneux-Brunon, Dorsaf Nasri, Rachel Terrasse, Karine Sauné, Marie-Claude Gagnieu, Anne Frésard, Olivier Delezay, Jacques Izopet, Bruno Pozzetto, Frédéric Lucht and Thomas Bourlet
Affiliation:
Keywords:
HIV-1, antiretroviral therapy, genital tract, HIV DNA, semen, viral load.
Abstract: Background: The semen of HIV-1 infected men represents the main vector of HIV-1 spread
following sexual transmission of cell-free or cell-associated virions.
Objective: The present study aimed to assess the impact of HAART on HIV-1 RNA/DNA and on
inflammatory environment in the semen of long-term HAART-experienced men.
Methods: Forty-five paired samples of semen and blood were obtained from 37 consenting men, 10 untreated and 27 under
HAART. Blood and seminal HIV RNA and DNA loads were quantified by the Abbott RealTime m2000rt assay and an inhouse
real-time PCR protocol, respectively. Tat/rev/nef intra-cellular mRNA was tested by qualitative PCR. Interleukin (IL)-
1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, GM-CSF and TNFα were quantified in 20 paired samples by Bio-plex® assay.
Results: No semen was found HIV RNA positive in men under HAART. Twenty-six percent of semen samples from
HAART-experienced men remained positive for HIV DNA. Seminal HIV DNA was significantly associated with the
duration of infection and the HIV DNA load in blood. No seminal mononuclear cells were found positive for intracellular
HIV RNA in HAART experienced men. All the tested chemokines exhibited significantly higher concentration in semen
than in blood in both treated and untreated men. No effect of HAART on cytokines/chimiokines loads was observed.
Conclusion: These results demonstrate the efficacy of HAART on the reduction of seminal RNA HIV-1 loads despite the
persistence of local inflammation. Moreover, in our hands the seminal cell-associated virus reservoir was not reactivated
in an inflammatory environment was not productive and its reactivation seems unlikely.
