title: Immunological abnormalities in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected asymptomatic homosexual men. HIV affects the immune system before CD4+ T helper cell depletion occurs.
abstract: To investigate the effect of persistent HIV infection on the immune system, we studied leukocyte functions in 14 asymptomatic homosexual men (CDC group II/III) who were at least two years seropositive, but who still had normal numbers of circulating CD4+ T cells. Compared with age-matched heterosexual men and HIV-negative homosexual men, the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from seropositive men showed decreased proliferation to anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody and decreased CD4+ T-helper activity on PWM-driven differentiation of normal donor B cells. Monocytes of HIV-infected homosexual men showed decreased accessory function on normal T cell proliferation induced by CD3 monoclonal antibody. The most striking defect in leukocyte functional activities was observed in the B cells of HIV-infected men. B cells of 13 out of 14 seropositive men failed to produce Ig in response to PWM in the presence of adequate allogeneic T-helper activity. These findings suggest that HIV induces severe immunological abnormalities in T cells, B cells, and antigen-presenting cells early in infection before CD4+ T cell numbers start to decline. Impaired immunological function in subclinically HIV-infected patients may have clinical implications for vaccination strategies, in particular the use of live vaccines in groups with a high prevalence of HIV seropositivity.
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miedema
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Terpstra
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Schattenkerk
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Wolf
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Al
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Danner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goudsmit
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016827:CD8 Antigens