title: In vitro synthesis of human immunodeficiency virus-specific antibodies in peripheral blood lymphocytes of infants.
abstract: An assay system was developed for the analysis of antibodies secreted in vitro against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes of HIV-infected individuals. Cultures of peripheral blood lymphocytes were established with medium alone or with medium containing Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or pokeweed mitogen. HIV antibodies were determined by an ELISA performed with commercial kits in which a whole virus extract served as antigen. Optimal antibody secretion was detected in 7-day peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures to which EBV had been added to provide polyclonal B-cell activation. Pokeweed mitogen-induced antibody secretion and spontaneous antibody secretion were less consistent. With EBV as a stimulus, the sensitivity and specificity of this assay for determining HIV infection status were each 100% in adults. When the assay was applied to infants and children, 23 of 24 symptomatic HIV-seropositive children (class P-2) and 11 of 33 asymptomatic seropositive infants aged less than or equal to 15 months (class P-0) tested positive for EBV-induced antibody secretion. Six of the 11 P-0 patients who tested positive have progressed to develop symptomatic disease, while the remainder are still seropositive at ages 2-15 months. Of the infants who were negative in this assay, all have remained asymptomatic. Treatment with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine in infected adults and children has resulted in transient suppression of the in vitro antibody response in some instances. Thus EBV-induced synthesis of HIV-specific antibodies in vitro is a sensitive and specific indicator of HIV infection and is of help in determining infection status of asymptomatic seropositive infants who are classified as having "indeterminate" infection.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, North Shore University Hospital, Cornell University Medical College, Manhasset, NY 11030.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Pahwa
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Chirmule
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Leombruno
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Lim
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Harper
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Bhalla
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Pahwa
authors: R P
authors: RP
authors: Nelson
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Good
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007700:Kinetics; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015215:Zidovudine