title: Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity-inducing antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus. Presence at different clinical stages.
abstract: The presence of antibodies mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected target cells was investigated with 170 sera from patients with varying severity of HIV infection. Approximately 40% of sera from individuals representing all stages of infection were ADCC-positive when tested against HTLV-IIIB infected 0937 clone 2 target cells. The positive sera had higher HIV antibody titers as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay compared with ADCC-negative sera. ADCC titers were lower in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome than in asymptomatic carriers. This decline in ADCC titer was not correlated with a general decrease of HIV antibodies. No correlation between the CD4:CD8 lymphocyte ratio and ADCC activity was found. The possible beneficial effect of ADCC-inducing antibodies early in infection is discussed in relation to the effect of ADCC-inducing antibodies in other retrovirus systems and to the nature of lentivirus infections.
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000276:immunology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies