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It has been found that infection of target cells with the CC chemokine receptor 5-restricted (R5) human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolate requires the presence of CD4 and CCR5 molecules on the surface of target cells. We observed that R5 HIV-1 primary isolates from long term survivors replicate less efficiently than the same variants from AIDS progressors in Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) of reverse transcribed messenger RNA, revealed approximately 2 times higher level of CCR5 transcript in Th1 than Th2 cells. Nevertheless we found that R5 HIV-1 primary isolates from long-term survivors and AIDS progressors replicated more efficiently in Th2 than Th1 lymphocytes. These findings correlated with lower-level biosynthesis of regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha and -1beta (MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta), in Th2 than Th1 lymphocytes. Our data indicates that Th0/Th2 cell orientation in HIV-infected individuals and a higher replication of R5 HIV-1 primary isolates in AIDS progressors than long term-survivors can be associated with progression to AIDS.

It has recently been reported that the Regulated upon Activation of Normal T-cells Expressed and Secreted (RANTES) chemokine may exhibit a chemotactic effect on sperm. The RANTES chemokine acts on target cells by binding to the CCR5 receptor, which is present on the surface of various cells. Spermatozoa contain a complex repertoire of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that may provide an insight into past events of spermatogenesis. The type and amount of CCR5 chemokine receptor transcript were investigated in spermatozoa that were isolated by the swim-up method from semen samples of men with normozoospermia. Using reverse transcription and realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) analysis, we found that the CCR5 mRNA isoform in human spermatozoa consists of exons 3 and 4, and is shorter than the transcript in leukocytes. This CCR5 transcript may represent a more stable mRNA isoform; one that is used to biosynthesize the CCR5 receptor in spermatogenesis or the early stages of embryonic development.

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