HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibiting antibody titer in serum: relation to disease progression and to core-antibody levels.
A new assay for detecting inhibition of reverse transcriptase activity (the RT-i REA) was developed. This assay was standardized for screening serum samples for reverse transcriptase inhibiting antibodies (RT-iAb). High specificity (100%) and sensitivity (greater than 98%) were achieved with samples from HIV-negative individuals and HIV-infected individuals. The RT-i REA was also used in a study of the titers of RT-iAb in serum samples obtained from 33 HIV-infected homosexual men. The results confirmed the relation between decreasing RT-iAb levels and progression to late stages of the disease. Furthermore, a falling RT-iAb titer was observed in 14 of 15 individuals experiencing periods of severe clinical symptoms attributed to HIV-activity. In 7 of the patients the decline in RT-iAb titer began prior to severe clinical symptoms. The fall in RT-iAb titer also correlated with a reduction in core Ab level. The core Ab level has previously been reported to be a disease progression marker with considerable prognostic value. However, whereas all patients were positive for RT-iAb, 8 of the 33 patients did not have detectable core Ab. The use of RT-iAb titer as a marker of disease progression is discussed.
Neumüller
M
M
Research Unit for Replication Enzymology, University of Uppsala, Sweden.
Karlsson
A
A
Lennerstrand
J
J
Källander
C F
CF
Sandström
E
E
Holmberg
V
V
Gronowitz
J S
JS
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D000091402:Prohibitins; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000276:immunology*; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D015483:HIV Antibodies; C000717331:PHB2 protein, human; D000091402:Prohibitins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase