title: Autoantibodies against ganglioside GM3 represent a portion of anti-lymphocyte antibodies in AIDS patients.
abstract: In this study we analysed the relationship between anti-lymphocytic ganglioside antibodies and anti-lymphocyte antibodies in AIDS patients. Anti-lymphocytic ganglioside antibodies were detected by thin layer chromatography (TLC) immunostaining; three colour flow cytometry was used to analyse circulating antibodies against different lymphocyte subsets. Anti-lymphocytic ganglioside antibodies were detected in 23 out of 49 AIDS patients sera (46.9%). All positive sera reacted selectively with the GM3 comigrating band from AIDS lymphocytes. Twenty two out of the 23 anti-lymphocytic GM3 positive sera also had antibodies against CD4+T cells, versus 17/26 anti-GM3 negative. Furthermore, patients with lymphocytic GM3 antibodies showed a significantly higher antibody reactivity against CD4+ T cells than patients in which these antibodies were not detected. The absorption tests revealed that preincubation of positive sera with GM3 was followed by a decrease in the reaction with target lymphocytes. These findings suggest that anti-GM3 antibodies are a portion, but not the majority, of antibodies reacting with CD4+ T cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Griggi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Garofalo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kukel
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lenti
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Massetti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sorice
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Pontieri
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005679:G(M3) Ganglioside / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D001323:Autoantibodies; D005679:G(M3) Ganglioside