Merkel cell polyomavirus IgG antibody levels are associated with progression to AIDS among HIV-infected individuals.

The association of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCP _y V) with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) in immunocompromised individuals has been revealed in a number of surveys. The study of MCP _y V 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 MCP _y V 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 MCP _y V was analyzed by virus like particle (VLP)-based enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Presence of MCP _y V-DNA in subject's PBMCs was examined by quantitative real-time PCR assay. Levels of anti-MCP _y V 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 MCP _y V-DNA in PBMCs of HIV/AIDS, non-AIDS HIV-infected and un-infected controls were 17%, 16%, and 14% respectively. The MCP _y V viral load among the groups ranged between 0.15 to 2.9 copies/10 ³ cells (median, 1.9 copies/10 ³ cells), with no significant difference between the studied populations (p value = 0.3).