Detection of HIV in haemopoietic progenitors

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Abstract
Peripheral blood cytopenias present a major problem in the management of patients with HIV infection. Their pathophysiology is likely to be multifactorial. although there is controversy as to whether haemopoietic progenitors are a target for HIV. In order to investigate the haemopoietic defect in HIV infection, we looked at bone marrow culture characteristics of marrow from eight HIV+ patients compared to normal controls. We performed long‐term liquid culture (LTC) and colony forming assays for granulocytemacrophage (CFU‐GM) and granulocyte. erythroid. megakaryocyte. macrophage (CFU‐GEMM). In LTC we found normal stromal appearance and haemopoietic focus formation. There was no difference in colony assays of CFU‐GM and CFU‐GEMM between HIV+ and normal controls. Colonies taken from CFU‐GM and CFU‐GEMM were analysed for HIV DNA sequences, and we were able to detect HIV DNA in colonies from all HIV+ patients. Our results indicate that despite infection of haemopoietic progenitor cells by HIV, bone marrow function is preserved. This suggests that HIV‐related cytopenias may be due to alternative mechanisms not present in our in vitro system.