Clinical Correlation and Genetic Polymorphism of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proviral DNA Obtained after Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification

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Abstract
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify a long sequence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) DNA, to assess the correlation betweenPCR signal and clinical stage of disease, and to demonstrate the genotypic variability of different HIV isolates. Twenty-four (96%) of 25 anti-HIV-reactive patients and none of 12 controls were positive for HIV proviral DNA by PCR. After quantification of the PCR signal, a significant difference in the relative amount of mv proviral DNA per lOs peripheral blood mononuclear cells between symptomatic patients (Centers for Disease Control [CDC] class IV) (32,284 ± 5225 cpm [mean ± SE], equivalent to 802 HIV plasmid DNA copies) and patients without symptoms (CDC class II/III) (5484 ± 1469 cpm [mean ± SE], equivalent to 67 HIV plasmid DNA copies) was observed (P < .01). Restriction analysis ofPCR products in selected samples showed extensive genetic polymorphism between different isolates and more than one viral genotype per isolate. There was a clear correlation between the appearance ofclinical symptoms in HIV infection and high levels ofviral replication.