Abstract
The importance of astrocytes as a reservoir of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in the brain remains elusive. By combining immunohistochemistry, laser capture microdissection, and triple-nested Alu-PCR, we demonstrate integrated HIV-1 in astrocytes and macrophages isolated directly from autopsy brain tissues of HIV-1-infected subjects. The ability of HIV-1 to integrate in terminally differentiated astrocytes suggests a permanent reservoir of provirus in brain that will impact the development and likely success of strategies aimed at eradicating HIV-1.
We thank Eugene Major for providing SVG cells and Joseph Sodroski for providing Cf2th cells. This study was supported by grants from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to S.L.W. (358399), P.R.G. (251520) and S.S. (281209), grants from NIH/NIAID (R21-AI054207) to P.R.G., NIH/NINDS (NS44807 and NS049465) to J.C.M., NIH/NIDA (K08-DA16160) to C.A.P., and NIH/NS (R01-NS37277) to D.G, and a grant from the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation to D.F.J.P. P.R.G. is a recipient of an NHMRC R. Douglas Wright Biomedical Career Development Award.