DYNAMICS OF VIRUS VERSUS HOST INTERACTION IN CHILDREN WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 INFECTION

To investigate the dynamic interplay between human immunodeficiency vi rus type 1 (HIV-1) replication and the extent of immune destruction in HIV-1-infected children, virus burden in lymphoid tissues (LN) and pe ripheral blood was compared with changes in LN architecture and cytoki ne levels constitutively expressed in LN. In agreement with results of a preliminary study, the plasma HIV-1 RNA level correlated with the a mount of provirus in LN. However, the level was also associated with a degree of destruction of lymphoid follicular architecture and an alte ration of immune cytokine expression, Expression of interleukin (IL)-4 was higher in LN with higher virus replication. Reduction of plasma v iremia was associated with an increase in IL-2 mRNA levels in LN. Thes e findings suggest that measurable virus burden in the peripheral bloo d is not a simple reflection of viral replication in LN but is also in fluenced by the extent of progressive immune destruction.