Detection of HIV-1 viral load in tears of HIV/AIDS patients

Abstract Objectives The tear, as an important bodily secretion, plays a crucial role in preventing infection and maintaining homeostasis of ocular surfaces. Although accumulating studies have reported on the HIV-1 viral load profile among varying bodily fluids and secretions, little was known concerning HIV-1 dynamics in tears. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the HIV-1 viral load in tears of HIV/AIDS patients and study factors influencing their tear viral load. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted. 67 patients with a confirmed HIV-1 infection or AIDS were recruited from the Beijing You’an Hospital, China between April 2018 and September 2018. Socio-demographic information and laboratory test results were collected. At the same time, ophthalmic examinations were carried out and tear samples were tested. Results Of 30 highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-naïve patients, 53.3% had detectable HIV-1 RNA in tears. Of 37 patients on HAART, HIV-1 RNA was undetectable in their tears, regardless of treatment duration and blood viral load. Tear viral load ranged from TND (target not detected) to 13,096 copies/mL. Viral load was lower in tears than in blood plasma (p < 0.001), and was significantly correlated with plasma viral load (Rho = 0.566, p < 0.001) and AIDS stage (Rho = 0.312, p = 0.01), but negatively correlated with CD4 + T cell count, CD4 +/CD8 + T cell count, and duration of HIV infection (Rho = -0.450, Rho = − 0.464, Rho = − 0.565; p < 0.001). Conclusions HIV-1 RNA is present in tears of more than half of the HAART-naïve patients, whereas absent in tears of patients on HAART. Tear viral load is positively associated with plasma viral load while it is negatively correlated with CD4 cell count. This study provides novel insights into the area with limited understanding–HIV-1 viral load in tears.

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Risk factors for Blastocystis infection in HIV/AIDS patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy in Southwest China

Infectious Diseases of Poverty ◽

10.1186/s40249-019-0596-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shun-Xian Zhang ◽

Fen-Yan Kang ◽

Jia-Xu Chen ◽

Li-Guang Tian ◽

Lan-Lan Geng

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

T Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Southwest China ◽

Mammalian Species ◽

Aids Patients ◽

Virus Load ◽

Hiv Virus ◽

Hiv Aids

Abstract Background Blastocystis is a widespread zoonotic protozoan of mammalian species, especially in HIV/AIDS individuals. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and risk factors related with Blastocystis infection among HIV/AIDS patients in Southwest China. Methods The cross-sectional study was performed in 311 HIV/AIDS cases in Tengchong City, Yunnan Province from July 2016 to March 2017. For each subject, stool specimen was collected to detect the Blastocystis, and the blood sample was used to detect HIV virus load and CD4+ T cell count, in addition, structured questionnaire was used to collect the basic information and risk factors. Findings The result showed that the detection rate of Blastocystis was 3.86% (95% CI: 2.22–6.62) among HIV/AIDS patients. Both raising animal (OR = 12.93, 95% CI: 1.54–108.36) and drinking un-boiled water (OR = 8.17, 95% CI: 1.76–37.90) were risk factors for Blastocystis infection in HIV/AIDS individuals. In addition, the interaction of CD4+ T cell count and HIV virus load was also contribution to Blastocystis infection (P = 0.007). Conclusions A high prevalence of Blastocystis infection was found in HIV/AIDS patients in Tengchong. Poor hygienic habits, the interaction of HIV virus load and CD4+ T cell count were identified as main risk factors for infection. These results will help us to develop efficient control strategies to intervene with and prevent the occurrence of Blastocystis among HIV-infected individuals.

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Relationships of PBMC microRNA expression, plasma viral load, and CD4+ T-cell count in HIV-1-infected elite suppressors and viremic patients

Retrovirology ◽

10.1186/1742-4690-9-5 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 95

Author(s):

Kenneth W Witwer ◽

Andria K Watson ◽

Joel N Blankson ◽

Janice E Clements

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

T Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Plasma Viral Load ◽

Microrna Expression ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

Elite Suppressors ◽

Hiv 1 ◽

Cd4 T Cell Count

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Normal CD95 (APO-1/Fas)-Induced T Cell Apoptosis Despite High Plasma Viral Load in HIV-1-Infected Children and Adolescents Receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

Pediatrics and Related Topics ◽

10.1080/0030932021000053462 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 41 (5) ◽

pp. 415-424

Author(s):

Böhler T.

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

T Cell ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Cell Apoptosis ◽

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Plasma Viral Load ◽

High Plasma ◽

T Cell Apoptosis ◽

Highly Active ◽

Hiv 1

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STING and cGAS gene expressions were downregulated among HIV-1-infected persons after antiretroviral therapy

Virology Journal ◽

10.1186/s12985-021-01548-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lorena Leticia Peixoto de Lima ◽

Allysson Quintino Tenório de Oliveira ◽

Tuane Carolina Ferreira Moura ◽

Ednelza da Silva Graça Amoras ◽

Sandra Souza Lima ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Viral Load ◽

T Cell ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Cell Count ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Type I ◽

Α Level ◽

The Impact ◽

Hiv 1

Abstract Background The HIV-1 epidemic is still considered a global public health problem, but great advances have been made in fighting it by antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART has a considerable impact on viral replication and host immunity. The production of type I interferon (IFN) is key to the innate immune response to viral infections. The STING and cGAS proteins have proven roles in the antiviral cascade. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of ART on innate immunity, which was represented by STING and cGAS gene expression and plasma IFN-α level. Methods This cohort study evaluated a group of 33 individuals who were initially naïve to therapy and who were treated at a reference center and reassessed 12 months after starting ART. Gene expression levels and viral load were evaluated by real-time PCR, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte counts by flow cytometry, and IFN-α level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results From before to after ART, the CD4+ T cell count and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio significantly increased (p < 0.0001), the CD8+ T cell count slightly decreased, and viral load decreased to undetectable levels in most of the group (84.85%). The expression of STING and cGAS significantly decreased (p = 0.0034 and p = 0.0001, respectively) after the use of ART, but IFN-α did not (p = 0.1558). Among the markers evaluated, the only markers that showed a correlation with each other were STING and CD4+ T at the time of the first collection. Conclusions ART provided immune recovery and viral suppression to the studied group and indirectly downregulated the STING and cGAS genes. In contrast, ART did not influence IFN-α. The expression of STING and cGAS was not correlated with the plasma level of IFN-α, which suggests that there is another pathway regulating this cytokine in addition to the STING–cGAS pathway.

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Proviral HIV-1 DNA in subjects followed since primary HIV-1 infection who suppress plasma viral load after one year of highly active antiretroviral therapy

AIDS ◽

10.1097/00002030-200104130-00001 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 15 (6) ◽

pp. 665-673 ◽

Cited By ~ 88

Author(s):

Nicole Ngo-Giang-Huong ◽

Christiane Deveau ◽

Isabelle Da Silva ◽

Isabelle Pellegrin ◽

Alain Venet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Plasma Viral Load ◽

Highly Active ◽

One Year ◽

Hiv 1

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EBV AND HHV-6 CIRCULATING SUBTYPES IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV IN BURKINA FASO, IMPACT ON CD4 T CELL COUNT AND HIV VIRAL LOAD

Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases ◽

10.4084/mjhid.2017.049 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 2017049 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lassina TRAORE ◽

Ouéogo NIKIEMA ◽

Abdoul Karim OUATTARA ◽

Tegwindé Rébéca COMPAORE ◽

Serge Théophile SOUBEIGA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

T Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Cd4 Count ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Study Population ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv 1 ◽

Cd4 T Cell Count

Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV-6) are responsible for severe diseases, particularly in immunocompromised persons. There are poor data on the infection with these opportunistic viruses in Burkina Faso.The purpose of this study is to characterize EBV and HHV-6 subtypes and to assess their impact on CD4 T cell count, HIV-1 viral load and antiretroviral treatment in people living with HIV-1.The study population consisted of 238 HIV-positive patients with information on CD4 count, HIV-1 viral load and HAART. Venous blood samples collected on EDTA tubes were used for EBV and HHV-6 Real Time PCR subtyping.An infection rate of 6.7% (16/238) and 7.1% (17/238) were found respectively for EBV and HHV-6 in the present study. Among EBV infections, similar prevalences were noted for both subtypes (3.9% [9/238] for EBV-1 vs 4.6% [11/238] for EBV-2) with 2.1% (5/238) of co-infection. HHV-6A infection represented 6.3% (15/238) of the study population against 5.0% (12/238) for HHV-6B. . EBV-2 infection was significantly higher in patients with CD4 count ≥ 500 compared to those with CD4 count less than 500 cells (1.65% vs 8.56%, p = 0,011). The prevalence of EBV and HHV-6 infections were almost similar in HAART-naive and HAART-experienced patients.The present study provides information on the prevalence of EBV and HHV-6 subtypes in people living with HIV-1 in Burkina Faso. The study also suggests that HAART treatment has no effect on infection with these opportunistic viruses in people living with HIV-1.

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