Isolation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 from peripheral blood monocytes

Methods Mol Biol. 2005:304:25-33. doi: 10.1385/1-59259-907-9:025.

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) can infect circulating peripheral blood monocytes and resting CD4+ T lymphocytes despite sustained suppression of plasma viremia to undetectable levels. These persistently infected cell populations pose a barrier for virus eradication by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and are a significant reservoir of HIV-1 contributing to viral rebound following cessation or failure of HAART. This chapter provides a protocol for isolating replication-competent HIV-1 from peripheral blood monocytes of HIV-1-infected individuals, including those with sustained plasma HIV-1 RNA levels below 50 copies/mL, by co-culture with CD8-depleted, phytohemagglutinin-activated donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In our laboratory, this protocol has the sensitivity to achieve a success rate of positive HIV-1 isolation in approx 70% of cases. The study of HIV-1 strains harbored by peripheral blood monocytes of patients undergoing HAART will contribute to the understanding of viral persistence in cellular reservoirs that impede effective HAART.

MeSH terms

  • CD8 Antigens / immunology
  • Coculture Techniques / methods
  • Flow Cytometry
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Monocytes / virology*

Substances

  • CD8 Antigens