HCMV late antigens and HIV-1 tat protein colocalized in the cytoplasm of 5-10% of microglia and MDM. p24 antigen levels decreased 10- to 40-fold in supernatants of MDM and the reduction was greater when HCMV infection was performed 24 h before HIV-1 infection.
Patients with AIDS and disseminated CMV infection display the maximum activation of HIV p24 antigenaemia and the greatest deficiency of CD8+ T lymphocytes.