HIV-1 DNA and mRNA concentrations are similar in peripheral blood monocytes and alveolar macrophages in HIV-1-infected individuals

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative contribution of alveolar macrophages, peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from HIV-infected individuals to HIV-1 viral load. METHODS: Alveolar macrophages were obtained by flexible bronchoscopy, and PBM and PBL by venipuncture from HIV-1-infected individuals. Alveolar macrophages and PBM were purified using immunomagnetic bead selection to deplete CD3+ and CD19+ cells from bronchoalveolar lavage and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, respectively. DNA and mRNA were extracted and gag copy number quantified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcriptase PCR. The titres of infectious cell-associated HIV-1..