Biphasic decay of latently infected CD4(+) T cells in acute human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection

Latent infection of resting CD4(+) T cells represents a major barrier to er adication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), The establishment and rate of decay of latent HIV-1 in resting CD+ T cells from 9 acute sero converters, 7 of whom began to receive highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) shortly after presentation, were studied, Before the initiation of therapy, these patients had very high frequencies of latently infected CD4 (+) T cells, with a median frequency of 205 infectious units per million re sting CD4(+) T cells, These values are greater than or equal to1 log higher than those seen in chronically infected patients who are not undergoing HA ART. The number of latently infected cells declined dramatically after init iation of HAART but then tended to level off at a low but stable level, The biphasic decay of latent HIV in resting CD4(+) T cells in acute seroconver ters supports current models of pre- and postintegration latency.