Distribution of HIV-1 in the genomes of AIDS patients

• Published in: Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS 2004-03, Vol.61 (6), p.721-726
• Main Authors: Tsyba, L, Rynditch, A V, Boeri, E, Jabbari, K, Bernardi, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - genetics; AIDS; Base Composition; CD4 antigen; CD4 Antigens; Cell culture; Chromatin; Chromatin - genetics; Chromosomes, Human; DNA; DNA, Viral - analysis; DNA, Viral - genetics; GC Rich Sequence; Genome, Human; Genomes; Guanylate cyclase; HIV; HIV-1 - genetics; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Humans; Integration; Isochores; Proviruses; Proviruses - genetics; RNA; RNA, Viral - genetics; Viremia; Viremia - genetics; Virus Integration
• ISSN: 1420-682X; 1420-9071
• DOI: 10.1007/s00018-003-3436-6

The localization of HIV-1 proviruses in compositional DNA fractions from 27 AIDS patients during the chronic phase of the disease with depletion of CD4+ and different levels of viremia showed the following. (1) At low viremia, proviruses are predominantly localized in the GC-richest isochores, which are characterized by an open chromatin structure; this result mimics findings on HIV-1 integration in early infected cells in culture. (2) At higher viremia, an increased distribution of proviruses in GC-poor isochores (which match the GC poorness of HIV-1) was found; this suggests a selection of cells in which the 'isopycnic' localization leads to a higher expression of proviruses and, in turn, to higher viremia. (3) At the highest viremia, integrations in GC-rich isochores are often predominant again, but generally not at the same level as in (1); this may be the consequence of new integrations from the extremely abundant RNA copies.