title: Human immunodeficiency virus infection in two cohorts of homosexual men: neutralising sera and association of anti-gag antibody with prognosis.
abstract: Sequential sera from 48 subjects infected with human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-I) were examined over 36 months for the presence of neutralising antibodies, and for specific anti-gag (p24) and anti-env (gp41) antibodies to HIV-I. Results were interpreted in terms of clinical outcome during the period 1982/3 to 1985/6. HIV-I-infected subjects who remained symptom-free, by comparison with those who manifested AIDS or AIDS-related complex (ARC), had a significantly higher titre of anti-p24 antibodies throughout the 3 years, as measured by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and radioimmunoprecipitation. The symptomless subjects also showed a trend towards an increasing neutralising antibody titre with time. There was no relation between anti-gp41 titre and clinical outcome, nor an independent relation between anti-p24 and neutralising titre. A lower or falling titre of anti-p24 antibody was associated significantly with clinical progression, up to 27 months before development of AIDS/ARC.
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000276:immunology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins