Spontaneous in vitro production of virus-specific antibody by lymphocytes from HIV-infected subjects.
In vitro synthesis of IgG directed against HIV components was detected by ELISA and Western blot assay of lymphocyte culture supernatants. Lymphocytes from HIV-infected individuals spontaneously produced antibody against HIV proteins very early in culture, suggesting in vivo activation of HIV-specific antibody-forming cells. The frequency of circulating B cells spontaneously secreting HIV-specific IgG was very high in some cases, but spontaneous HIV-specific antibody synthesis was not accompanied by polyclonal reactivation of B-cell clones of different specificity. The pattern of specificity of the anti-HIV antibody produced in vitro did not reflect the serum pattern consistently. These findings indicate a new approach potentially useful for the study of the immunobiology of HIV infection. The possible implications of the in vitro production of HIV-specific antibody for the diagnosis, prognosis and clinical management of this infection are also discussed.
Amadori
A
A
Institute of Oncology, University of Padova, Italy.
De Rossi
A
A
Faulkner-Valle
G P
GP
Chieco-Bianchi
L
L
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000914:Antibodies, Viral