Intracellular Nef detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV patients

T Wang, LA Green, SK Gupta, T Amet… - AIDS Research and …, 2015 - liebertpub.com
T Wang, LA Green, SK Gupta, T Amet, DJ Byrd, Q Yu, HL Twigg III, M Clauss
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, 2015liebertpub.com
We report here the novel finding that HIV-negative factor (Nef) protein is present in
considerable numbers of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from viremic HIV-
infected patients not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and also in patients receiving
virologically suppressive ART, though to a smaller degree. Interestingly, these Nef-positive
PBMCs constitute predominantly uninfected bystander cells. These results may explain
systemic pathology in HIV patients, even in those receiving ART.
Abstract
We report here the novel finding that HIV-negative factor (Nef) protein is present in considerable numbers of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from viremic HIV-infected patients not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and also in patients receiving virologically suppressive ART, though to a smaller degree. Interestingly, these Nef-positive PBMCs constitute predominantly uninfected bystander cells. These results may explain systemic pathology in HIV patients, even in those receiving ART.
Mary Ann Liebert