A high proportion of sera of heroin addicts possesses anti-HLA class I and class II reactivity.
The anti-HLA reactivity of sera from 210 heroin addicts was tested by the direct binding with 125I-labeled preparations of HLA class I and class II molecules purified from human B-cell lines of various HLA haplotypes. A high proportion (81.7%) of the sera tested possessed anti-HLA class I and II reactivity. The reactivity did not show any allospecificity and was apparently mediated by antibodies. The control included 100 healthy blood donors, 25 male homosexuals positive for anti-HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) antibodies, and 25 patients positive for HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen). Of these controls, only one of the healthy blood donors was positive for anti-HLA reactivity (P much less than 0.001). Among heroin addicts, the reactivity was independent of the presence of either HBsAg or anti-HIV antibodies in the serum.
Ameglio
F
F
Regina Elena Institute for Cancer Research, Rome, Italy.
Benedetto
A
A
Marotta
P
P
Centis
D
D
Sorretino
R
R
Tanigaki
N
N
Tosi
R
R
D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000276:immunology*
D006680:HLA Antigens; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D007518:Isoantibodies