Inverse relationship between HIV-1 p24 antigenemia, anti-p24 antibody and neutralizing antibody response in all stages of HIV-1 infection.
A double blind cohort study was conducted on 149 homosexual males and 36 patients with AIDS to investigate the relationship between HIV-1 antigenemia, the presence of neutralizing antibody (NA) activity and specific anti-viral core protein (p24) antibody (Ab) in the sera of HIV infected individuals during their progression to AIDS. All AIDS patients and 68% (101/149) of the homosexual males were HIV seropositive upon entering the study. Of those 48 (32%) homosexuals who were HIV negative at the onset, three seroconverted during the two year observation period. Retrospective studies of the HIV(-) subjects' sequentially stored serum samples demonstrated an early transient appearance of gag encoded p24 antigen (Ag) which preceded their production of NA and specific anti-p24 Ab. Following their seroconversion, no more circulating p24 Ag could be detected. Among the 101 HIV positive homosexuals, 16% rapidly progressed to AIDS and seven of these 16 (44%) subjects eventually died during the two year observation period. In this group of individuals with poor prognosis, presence of NA and anti-p24 Ab commenced at the onset reaching peak levels just prior to developing AIDS and began to decline as the clinical course worsened. Their circulating level of p24 Ag remained undetectable as long as there was quantifiable NA and anti-p24 Ab in their sera. Reappearance of circulatory p24 Ag, on the other hand, was associated with high risk for progression to AIDS.2+hus, while only 11
Sei
Y
Y
Department of Neoplastic Diseases, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029.
Tsang
P H
PH
Chu
F N
FN
Wallace
I
I
Roboz
J P
JP
Sarin
P S
PS
Bekesi
J G
JG
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins