Prevalence and specificity of lymphocytotoxic antibodies in different stages of HIV infection.
Sera obtained from 27 HIV-infected persons were investigated for complement-dependent humoral cytotoxicity. Uninfected as well as HTLV-IIIB-infected H9 cells were used as cellular targets either before or after stimulation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or concanavalin A (Con-A). The degree of cytotoxicity was determined by 51Cr-release assay. Two different antibodies could be found in sera of HIV-infected persons, one being directed against HIV-induced cell surface component(s) and the other reacting with structure(s) present on activated T4 cells. Asymptomatic HIV-carries were found to have antibodies exerting complement-dependent cytotoxicity to HIV-infected T4 cells. These antibodies were reactive mainly after stimulation of HIV-infected target cells by Con-A. Sera of ARC and AIDS patients contained autoantibodies reactive with PHA-stimulated or HIV-infected T4 lymphocytes. These data suggest that HIV-specific antibodies represent an anti-viral immune defense, while autoantibodies may be important in destruction of the immune system in AIDS.
Szabó
B
B
Institute of Microbiology, Medical University, Debrecen, Hungary.
Tóth
F D
FD
Kiss
J
J
Füst
G
G
Ujhelyi
E
E
Bánhegyi
D
D
Horváth
A
A
Hollán
S R
SR
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000276:immunology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000097:blood*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans
D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015483:HIV Antibodies