Lack of Correlation Between HERV-K Expression and HIV-1 Viral Load in Plasma Specimens

HERV-K viral RNA has been reported in plasma specimens of HIV-1 infected individuals. Emerging data support the regulation and functional interaction between HERV-K and HIV-1 which warrant development of accurate HERV-K assays to evaluate HERV-K activation. In this study, researchers examined HERV-K RNA expression after careful removal of contaminating cellular DNA using DNase I. Researchers found that DNase I digestion effectively reduced HERV-K RT-PCR positive signal. Researchers also found that levels of HERV-K expression did not correlate with HIV-1 viral load. The study is in agreement with the published studies on HERV-K activation in HIV-1 viral positive plasma specimens and in addition calls for careful removal of cellular DNA to accurately evaluate HERV-K RNA expression.