Cell-associated HIV-1 RNA and CD30 RNA co-localize in human rectal and ileal tissue from HIV-1-infected individuals.

<p><i>In situ</i> chromogenic hybridization staining of HIV-1 RNA (pink) and CD30 RNA (black) was performed in ileum and rectum from HIV-1-infected individuals. Less than 0.1% of uninfected GALT cells expressed CD30 RNA (<b>A</b>). Although HIV-1 RNA⁺ staining alone was identified in sections from GALT from viremic HIV-1-infected individuals (n = 3) (<b>B</b>), 33% of HIV-1 RNA⁺ cells also expressed CD30 (<b>C</b>). In GALT from ART-suppressed individuals (n = 3), 88% of all HIV-1 RNA positive cells co-expressed CD30 (<b>D</b>). Percentages of HIV-1 RNA⁺ expressing CD30 RNA are shown in (<b>E</b>). 308 HIV-1 RNA⁺ cells were observed in sections from all viremic samples and 25 RNA⁺ cells were observed in tissues sections from suppressed individuals. Nearly all cells with high levels of CD30 RNA also expressed HIV-1 RNA, and minimal background CD30 RNA staining was observed in each field.