Setsuko I, Oka S, Gatanaga H, Shioda T, Nagai Y, Iwamoto A; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12; 11: 306 (abstract no. Tu.B.2238).

Univ. Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Fax: +81-3-5449-5427.

Objective: To investigate qualita- and quantitative dynamics of SI or NSI variants along clinical courses. Methods: Viral load in sera were measured by the b-DNA. Genetic changes of the envelope V3 of two Japanese hemophiliacs were examined by the PCR-sequencing. Both patients were infected with HIV around 1983 and the rapid decline of CD4 counts were observed in 1988 in one patient and in 1990 in the other. Results: In both cases, putative SI variants estimated from the V3 sequence (putative SI genotype) emerged before the decline of the CD4 counts. Quasispecies was formed by populations of the SI and NSI genotype thereafter. In either case, major clones with the SI genotype disappeared and other clones with the same genotype took over in less than 13 months before and during the rapid decline of the CD4 counts. However, after CD4 depletion below 100/microliters, the changes in the SI genotype were slowed down. Although population change within the NSI genotype were also observed, the same clone persisted longer than three to six years even when the patient had high CD4 counts. These persistency of the NSI clone might be the substantial of the pathogenesis of disease. When the SI genotype was detected at first, it existed as one of the dominant populations and was associated with a transient increase in the viral load from 104 to 105 order RNA/ml in either case. However, the same SI genotype had never persisted as the dominant clone and changed with additive mutations along their clinical courses. Surprisingly, there was a spike increase and steep decline of viral load even after severe CD4 depletion in both cases. Conclusion: These results suggested that the SI genotype was exposed to the strong immune pressure before CD4 depletion and the NSI genotype must be the escape mutant throughout the clinical course.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• AIDS Vaccines
• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Anti-HIV Agents
• Antigens, CD4
• CD4 Lymphocyte Count
• Genotype
• HIV
• HIV Antibodies
• HIV Core Protein p24
• HIV Envelope Protein gp120
• HIV Envelope Protein gp160
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• HIV-1
• Humans
• Viral Load
• genetics
• immunology

Other ID:

• 96922442

UI: 102218341

From Meeting Abstracts