Association of HTLV-III with Epstein-Barr virus infection and abnormalities of T lymphocytes in homosexual men.
Homosexual men were studied for associations among human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) infection, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, and T cell abnormalities. The presence of IgG antibody to EBV capsid antigen and antibody to EBV early antigen was significantly associated with augmented counts of suppressor T cells in healthy HTLV-III-seronegative men. HTLV-III-seropositive asymptomatic subjects had significantly enhanced titers of antibody to EBV and lower ratios of helper to suppressor T cells compared with HTLV-III-seronegative homosexual men. Of three men who seroconverted to HTLV-III, two had a greater than fourfold increase in titer of IgG antibody to EBV capsid antigen after seroconversion. These results suggest that the interaction of HTLV-III and EBV and their immunologic perturbations are significant in the natural history of this retrovirus infection in homosexual men.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C041788:Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen; C033305:Epstein-Barr virus early antigen; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G