title: Abnormalities of B-cell activation and immunoregulation in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
abstract: We studied B-lymphocyte function in 12 homosexual male patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, 5 healthy homosexual men, and 12 heterosexual controls. In comparison with the heterosexual controls, the patients were found to have elevated numbers of cells spontaneously secreting immunoglobulin, decreased B-cell proliferative responses to T-cell-independent B-cell mitogens, and qualitatively deficient helper T cells. The hyperactive spontaneous B-cell responses as well as the refractoriness to signals for T-cell-independent B-cell activation were highly suggestive of an in vivo polyclonal activation of B cells and may have been responsible for the manifestations of B-cell hyperreactivity, such as hypergammaglobulinemia, seen in these patients. We conclude that the scope of immune dysfunction in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome involves B cells as well as T cells.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000209:etiology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins