Evidence of an in vitro association between human immunodeficiency virus antigen P24 and Epstein-Barr virus DNA.

To investigate the association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), simultaneous determinations of HIV antigen (HIV Ag) p24 and EBV DNA were performed in lymphocyte culture supernatants from 63 individuals at risk of HIV infection. In vitro data, together with HIV immune status results, were subjected to a statistical analysis. HIV infection was identified in 49 patients (78%); of these, in vitro EBV DNA was found in 44 individuals (90%), while in only 3 of the 14 non-infected ones (21%). Statistical analysis demonstrated a close relationship between evidence of HIV infection and in vitro detection of EBV DNA (87.3% concordant with 95% confidence interval: 76.5%-94.5%). Furthermore, a strong dependence was revealed between the presence of EBV DNA and HIV Ag in culture (p less than 0.00001). These results indicate the existence of in vitro viral interactions, with likely in vivo implications in the pathogenesis and evolution of HIV infection.