title: Entamoeba histolytica antigen-specific induction of human immunodeficiency virus replication.
abstract: Replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be initiated in infected lymphocytes by antigenic or mitogenic stimulation. A soluble protein derived from an invasive strain of Entamoeba histolytica (amoebic antigen [AA]) was used to study the lymphoblastic responses of T lymphocytes derived from 8 HIV-seronegative homosexual men (controls) and 15 HIV-seropositive homosexual men (patients). The soluble protein was also used in long-term cultures as a stimulus for HIV replication. No control or patient produced detectable lymphoblastic responses to AA in a 6-day tritiated-thymidine incorporation assay. Of 15 patients, 5 (33%) produced HIV p24 (ranging from 31 pg/ml to 151 ng/ml) in response to AA in 30-day cell cultures. HIV p24 was expressed in three of seven patients in response to AA but not to the T-lymphocyte mitogen phytohemagglutinin. Implications for managing HIV-infected patients are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000276:immunology*; D006678:HIV / Q000502:physiology*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins