Detection of HIV-1 DNA in different subsets of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells using the polymerase chain reaction

Abstract
The presence of HIV-1 proviral DNA was determined in CD4 cells, CD8 cells and macrophages/monocytes obtained from peripheral blood of 8 HIV-1 infected persons. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) we were able to detect proviral DNA in the extracts of only 102–103 CD4 (T4) cells. In contrast, 105 CD8 cells did not contain detectable amounts of proviral DNA. Surprisingly, in four of our eight patients studied no HIV-1 DNA was found in macrophages. In peripheral blood, every hundred T4 cell may be infected with HIV-1.