title: Cellular and humoral immunity in various cohorts of male homosexuals in relation to infection with human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: The relationship between infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and various immunological parameters was studied in: (a) healthy controls; (b) homosexual individuals from the AIDS risk group without anti-HIV antibodies; (c) idem, but with anti-HIV antibodies; (d) patients with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL); (e) patients with AIDS-related syndrome; (f) patients with AIDS and opportunistic infections. In each group, consisting of 15-20 individuals, the following parameters were studied: absolute numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ cells; ratio CD4+/CD8+; cellular immune responses as measured in vivo by delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and in vitro; and antibody response in vivo after immunization with a low dose of keyhole limpet haemocyanin. Healthy HIV antibody-positive individuals and patients with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy already showed a decreased CD4+/CD8+ ratio, mainly due to an increase in the number of CD8+ cells. The ratio in the AIDS-related syndrome and AIDS groups was even lower, but this was now due to low numbers of CD4+ cells while the number of CD8+ cells was normal. The lymphocyte proliferative response was low in the HIV antibody-positive group, normal in the group with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy and profoundly decreased in the AIDS-related syndrome and AIDS groups. DTH was enhanced in the PGL group and diminished in both ARC and AIDS. Compared to healthy controls, the antibody response upon immunization with a low dose of keyhole limpet haemocyanin was depressed (although not absent) in all groups studied, even in HIV antibody-negative homosexuals. In the HIV antibody-positive group, the severity of the impairment of the various parameters of immunocompetence was not related to the presence of HIV antigenaemia.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miedema
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Eeftinck Schattenkerk
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Wolf
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goudsmit
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Danner
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Out
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Schellekens
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies