Integration of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in untreated infection occurs preferentially within genes

J Virol. 2006 Aug;80(15):7765-8. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00542-06.

Abstract

Previous analyses of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integration sites generated in infections in vitro or in patients in whom viral replication was repressed by antiviral therapy have demonstrated a preference for integration within protein-coding genes. We analyzed integration sites in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), spleen, lymph node, and cerebral cortex from patients with untreated HIV-1 infections. The great majority of integration sites in each tissue were within genes. Statistical analyses of the frequencies of integration in genes in PBMCs and lymph tissue demonstrated a strong preference for integration within genes. Although the sample size for brain tissue was too small to demonstrate a clear statistical preference for integration in genes, four of the five integration sites identified in brain were within genes. Taken together, our data indicate that HIV-1 preferentially integrates within genes during untreated infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Cerebral Cortex / physiology
  • Cerebral Cortex / virology
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / genetics*
  • Genes / physiology*
  • Genome, Human
  • HIV Infections* / genetics
  • HIV Infections* / virology
  • HIV-1* / genetics
  • HIV-1* / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / physiology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
  • Lymph Nodes / physiology
  • Lymph Nodes / virology
  • Spleen / physiology
  • Spleen / virology
  • Virus Integration*
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • DNA