HIV-1 DNA IN FIBROBLAST-CULTURES INFECTED WITH URINE FROM HIV-SEROPOSITIVE CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV) EXCRETORS

Interactions between HIV-1 and CMV may be important in the pathogenesi s of AIDS. We have studied whether active CMV infection alters the cel l tropism of HIV-1 in dually-infected individuals. Urines from HIV-ser opositive individuals excreting CMV were compared to urines from CMV n on-excretors. Sixty-six urines from HIV-seropositive individuals were tested. Infectious HIV-1 was not detected in any of the concentrated u rines tested. The urines were filtered, concentrated, DNase-treated an d cultured on HIV-1 non-permissive human forestin fibroblasts. HIV-1 D NA was detected by PCR with pol gene primers in 5 of 39 MRHF cell cult ures inoculated with CMV culture positive urine (p = 0.037). HIV-1 DNA was not detected by PCR in uninfected fibroblasts, in fibroblasts ino culated with CMV uninfected urine from 27 HIV-seropositive patients or in fibroblasts cultured with 9 CMV culture positive urines from 16 HI V-seronegative renal transplant recipients. Supernatant fluid from an HIV-1 PCR-positive culture was passaged onto another fibroblast monola yer, and these cells were negative for HIV-1 DNA. Direct inoculation o f fibroblasts with HIV-1 did not yield evidence of infection by PCR. C MV infection may facilitate HIV-1 DNA entry into ordinarily non-permis sive cells.