title: Oligoclonal immunoglobulins in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
abstract: Analysis of serum samples from patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was performed by high-resolution zone electrophoresis. A high incidence of monoclonal and oligoclonal immunoglobulins was detected in the sera of 24/27 patients with Kaposi's sarcoma and in 2/15 patients with opportunistic infections. The presence of monoclonal bands was independent of whether or not the patients had experienced an opportunistic infection. These findings indicate a monoclonal or oligoclonal B-cell activation occurring in a much higher frequency in AIDS patients with Kaposi's sarcoma, thus suggesting that similar mechanisms may be operative in the malignant or pseudomalignant proliferation of B-cells and endothelial cells in patients with AIDS.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007136:Immunoglobulins