Early transcription from nonintegrated DNA in human immunodeficiency virus infection

Replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) involves obligatory sequential processes. Following viral entry and reverse transcription, the newly synthesized viral DNA integrates into the host chromatin. Integration is mandatory for viral production, yet HIV infection of CD4 T cells in vivo results in high levels of nonintegrated DNA. The biological potential of nonintegrated HIV DNA is unclear; however, prior work has demonstrated a limited transcription of the nef gene by nonintegrated HIV in infected quiescent T-cell populations. In a kinetic analysis of HIV infection of metabolically active transformed and primary CD4 T cells, we find an unexpected transient expression of both early and late message by nonintegrated HIV DNA. However, only the early multiply spliced transcript was measurably translated. This restriction of protein expression was due in part to inadequate Rev function, since expression of Rev in trans resulted in the expression of the late structural gene gag by nonintegrated HIV DNA.