Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Igg Antibody Levels Are Associated With Progression to Aids Among Hiv-Infected Individuals Publisher Pubmed



Vahabpour R¹ ; Nasimi M² ; Naderi N³ ; Salehivaziri M⁴ ; Mohajel N⁵ ; Sadeghi F⁶ ; Keyvani H⁷ ; Monavari SH⁷
Source: Archives of Virology Published:2017

Abstract

The association of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) in immunocompromised individuals has been revealed in a number of surveys. The study of MCPyV specific antibody titers and viral loads in such patients has a great attraction for research groups interested in viral reactivation. In this cross-sectional study to evaluate MCPyV antibody titer, DNA prevalence and viral load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), we examined 205 HIV-1 infected patients and 100 un-infected controls. The HIV-1 infected patients divided into two groups (HIV/AIDS and non-AIDS) according to their CD4 status. Total IgG antibody titer against MCPyV was analyzed by virus like particle (VLP)-based enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Presence of MCPyV-DNA in subject’s PBMCs was examined by quantitative real-time PCR assay. Levels of anti-MCPyV IgG in HIV/AIDS patients were significantly higher than those in non-AIDS HIV-infected and control subjects (p value = <0.001). The prevalence rate of MCPyV-DNA in PBMCs of HIV/AIDS, non-AIDS HIV-infected and un-infected controls were 17%, 16%, and 14% respectively. The MCPyV viral load among the groups ranged between 0.15 to 2.9 copies/103cells (median, 1.9 copies/103cells), with no significant difference between the studied populations (p value = 0.3). © 2016, Springer-Verlag Wien.