Patterns of antibody reactivity to selected human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp160 epitopes infected individuals grouped according to CD4+ cell levels.
We examined sera from 160 HIV-infected individuals for antibodies reactive to HIV-1 gp160 epitopes defined by seven synthetic peptides. Seropositive individuals were placed into three groups based upon levels of circulating CD4+ cells. These groups consisted of individuals with (1) more than 400 CD4+ cells, (2) 200-400 CD4+ cells, and (3) fewer than 200 CD4+ cells/mm3. The percentage of sera containing antibodies reactive with two immunodominant gp160 epitopes (a.a. 304-321 and 600-611) was unchanged between groups, regardless of CD4 cell numbers. The percentage of sera containing antibodies reactive with weakly immunogenic gp160 epitopes, such as those defined by peptides 425-448 and 846-860, declined in the groups as CD4 values decreased. Our results suggest that the patterns of antibody reactivity to gp160 epitopes change as CD4 levels decline. A narrowing of the humoral immune response to epitopes on the envelope of HIV-1 appears to occur with disease progression.
Warren
R Q
RQ
Department of Virology and Immunology, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Texas 78284.
Wolf
H
H
Zajac
R A
RA
Boswell
R N
RN
Kanda
P
P
Kennedy
R C
RC
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D015686:Gene Products, env; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D010455:Peptides; D011498:Protein Precursors