HIGH VIRAL LOAD IN LYMPH-NODES AND LATENT HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS (HIV) IN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD CELLS OF HIV-1-INFECTED CHIMPANZEES

We have examined human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in chimpanzees by analyzing HIV-1 DNA and RNA in lymph nodes and peri pheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Like certain asymptomatic HIV-infect ed persons, these chimpanzees had no detectable viral replication in t heir PBMCs. However, viral replication and a high viral load were obse rved in the lymphatic tissue. Despite the absence of viral replication in PBMCs, 1/1,000 to 1/10,000 of the PBMCs contained HIV-1 proviral D NA, and Hiv transcription could be rapidly induced in these cells in v itro. These results provide direct evidence of cellular latency of HIV in vivo and suggest that HIV infection in chimpanzees may be a useful model for clinical latency of HIV infection in humans.