title: Evidence for depressed humoral immunity to Pneumocystis carinii in homosexual males, commercial plasma donors, and patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
abstract: Heterosexual controls were found to have significantly higher titers of immunoglobulin G antibody to Pneumocystis carinii than did patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and P. carinii pneumonitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody-positive or -negative homosexual male "gay bar" patrons, and HIV antibody-positive or -negative commercial plasma donors. The T-helper/T-suppressor lymphocyte ratios of HIV antibody-negative homosexual male gay bar patrons were slightly depressed (mean = 1.31 +/- 0.54) compared with those of heterosexual controls (mean = 1.79 +/- 0.32). In addition to other recognized factors, preexisting humoral as well as cell-mediated immune deficits before infection with HIV may help to explain the prevalence of and morbidity and mortality associated with P. carinii pneumonitis in AIDS patients.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D001782:Blood Donors; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000276:immunology*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G