Studies of Blood and Reproductive Fluids in HIV-Infected and Non-HIV-Infected Persons



Status:Recruiting
Conditions:Infectious Disease, HIV / AIDS
Therapuetic Areas:Immunology / Infectious Diseases
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - Any
Updated:1/17/2019
Start Date:May 21, 1991
Contact:Catherine A Seamon, R.N.
Email:cseamon@cc.nih.gov
Phone:(301) 402-3481

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Studies of the Pathogenesis of HIV Infection in Human Peripheral Blood Cells and/or Reproductive Fluids in HIV-Infected and HIV-Uninfected Volunteers

This study will examine the effects of HIV infection on substances produced by immune cells
that increase or decrease HIV infection.

HIV-infected patients and healthy normal volunteers may be eligible for this study.
Participants will be required to have a yearly medical evaluation, including blood tests for
cell counts and chemistries, a blood or urine pregnancy test for women, and other laboratory
tests as medically indicated or for research purposes.

Participants will donate blood or reproductive fluids, or both. From 20 to 150 cc (4 to 30
teaspoonfuls) of blood will be drawn from the arm using a small needle. Participants may be
asked to provide blood samples on more than one occasion over the course of the study. No
more than 450 cc (less than 1 pint) of blood will be drawn during any 6-week period. Males
will be given a private room for semen donation; fluid from females will be collected with a
cotton swab after speculum insertion. Participants may also be asked to have a buccal swab.
For this procedure, the inside of the cheek is gently scraped with a blunt-ended stick or
brush to obtain cells (buccal mucosal cells). The tissues will be used for a variety of
studies on the effects of HIV infection on factors that increase or decrease HIV infection.

Some of the tissues collected for this study may also be used for the following tests:

- Hepatitis screening Blood may be screened for different types of viral liver infections,
such as hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, or G.

- Genetic testing DNA from blood or cheek cells may be examined for mutations or deletions
that affect chemokines, cytokines and a family of enzymes called caspases. Chemokines
and cytokines are important mediators of the immune response. Alterations in the genes
for some of these substances influence HIV infection. Caspases regulate the process of
cell death, known as apoptosis. Caspase gene variations may determine the rate of cell
death in HIV-infected persons, and therefore, the rate of HIV progression. Patients with
abnormalities of any of these genes may be invited to join other studies of the role of
genetic defects in HIV infection.

- HLA testing Blood may be tested for HLA type a genetic marker of the immune system.
These tests may be used to try to identify factors associated with the rate of
progression of HIV disease or related conditions. Determining HLA type is necessary to
be able to perform certain research studies. Some HLA types have been associated with an
increased risk of certain diseases like arthritis and other rheumatologic problems.

We are studying the pathogenesis of HIV infection. Because of the lack of an adequate animal
model it is generally necessary to utilize human peripheral blood cells for studying aspects
of either in vivo or in vitro HIV infection. We wish to be able to continue to elucidate many
pathogenic aspects of HIV infection using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells as a
model.

- INCLUSION CRITERIA:

- 18 years of age or older.

- Adequate venous access.

- Have a blood pressure less than or equal to 180/100: pulse rate 50-100, unless a lower
pulse rate is considered normal for the volunteer.

- Have adequate blood counts (HIV positive volunteers: hemoglobin greater than or equal
to 9.0 g/dL, platelets greater than or equal to 50,000; HIV negative volunteers:
hemoglobin greater than or equal to 9.0 g/dL, platelets greater than or equal to
50,000)

- Be willing and able to provide written informed consent on screening and every 5
years, comply with study requirements and procedures, and comply with clinic policies

- Willingness to allow blood samples to be used for future studies of HIV
infection/pathogenesis, undergo genetic testing including HLA testing, and undergo
hepatitis screening

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

- Pregnant and/or breastfeeding females.

- Active substance abuse or history of prior substance abuse that may interfere with
protocol compliance or compromise patient safety.
We found this trial at
2
sites
110 Irving St NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20010
(202) 877-7000
Phone: Not Listed
Washington Hosp Ctr MedStar Washington Hospital Center is a not-for-profit, 926-bed, major teaching and research...
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9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Phone: 800-411-1222
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