Expression of the Late Cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp150 Transcript in Leukocytes of AIDS Patients Is Associated with a High Viral DNA Load in Leukocytes and Presence of CMV DNA in Plasma

Abstract

The expression of a late cytomegalovirus (CMV) transcript (pp150) was sought in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) of subjects with AIDS and correlated with the amounts of CMV DNA in PBL and plasma, by means of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The detection of the late CMV transcript was associated with a high number of CMV DNA copies in PBL (P=.0015) and with a positive CMV PCR assay in plasma (P<.001). Expression of CMV pp150 mRNA was best predicted by viral DNA thresholds corresponding to 7058 and 30 copies in PBL and plasma, respectively. The detection of CMV pp150 mRNA was associated with the presence of CMV disease in a univariate analysis but not in a multivariate analysis after controlling for the viral DNA load in PBL. Thus, active viral replication as determined by a high CMV DNA load in PBL is reflected by expression of the late CMV transcript in the same cells and by the presence of CMV DNA in plasma.

Human Cytomegalovirus DNA in Plasma and Serum Specimens of Renal Transplant Recipients Is Highly Fragmented

“…In other experiments, we have found up to 17-fold-higher levels of CMV DNA in whole blood for the small targets relative to large targets (data not shown). These observations suggest that a significant proportion of fragmented CMV DNA may also be present in blood cells, possibly in polymorphonuclear leukocytes since these have been found to harbor the majority of CMV DNA detected in blood (4,5,13). Further studies are needed to assess whether this indeed is the case.…”

“…CMV DNA can also be detected in serum and plasma, which are convenient specimens for CMV DNA load measurement (10,15,19,29). In recent years, many studies on the qualitative and quantitative detection of CMV DNA in these specimens have been reported, which generally show that levels of CMV DNA found in plasma or serum are significantly lower than those found in white blood cells (4,5,13,15,33).At present, it is unclear whether CMV DNA present in serum and plasma actually represents circulating infectious virus carrying an intact DNA genome. Nevertheless, CMV DNA loads measured in plasma and serum are generally interpreted as the burden of infectious virus (5,8,10,11,19,20,31), although some authors have raised questions regarding the state of CMV DNA in these specimens (21,26).…”

“…CMV DNA can also be detected in serum and plasma, which are convenient specimens for CMV DNA load measurement (10,15,19,29). In recent years, many studies on the qualitative and quantitative detection of CMV DNA in these specimens have been reported, which generally show that levels of CMV DNA found in plasma or serum are significantly lower than those found in white blood cells (4,5,13,15,33).…”

“…Nevertheless, CMV DNA loads measured in plasma and serum are generally interpreted as the burden of infectious virus (5,8,10,11,19,20,31), although some authors have raised questions regarding the state of CMV DNA in these specimens (21,26). It may well be that CMV DNA is present in these specimens in an unprotected form, vulnerable to DNA-degrading enzymes (DNases), rather than in a protected form within the enveloped viral capsid.…”

Accuracy of the serological ELISA test compared with the polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy

“…Appropriate conditions provide results comparable to tissue culture inoculation, a method that is considered to be the gold standard for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection. 18,19 In 1995 and 1998, Revello et al 20,21 performed a study to select a test that would provide early and precise diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection, using specific immunoglobulin M, polymerase chain reaction in amniotic liquid and viral culture. The purpose was to obtain a test that could reduce the time interval for the maternal and fetal infection diagnosis.…”