Relationship of antibodies against CD4+ T cells in HIV-infected patients to markers of activation and progression: autoantibodies are closely associated with CD4 cell depletion.
Antibodies against lymphocytes have been shown in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, but their relevance in the pathogenesis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) remains controversial. We investigated increased levels of lymphocyte surface Ig and antibodies against CD4+ T cells in the plasma. The relationship to CD4 cell depletion and serological parameters were analysed. A three-colour flow cytometric method was used to detect surface Ig on the surface of patients' cells and antibodies in the plasma of the patients. We observed a high percentage of patients with increased surface Ig on CD4+ T cells (94%-47/50). Antibodies in the plasma reacting with healthy donors' CD4+ T cells were detectable in 72% (23/32) of the patients. CD4 cell-surface Ig correlated well with surface Ig on different T-cell subpopulations but not with increased surface Ig on B cells. Only one control showed elevated surface Ig, plasma antibodies against lymphocytes were not detectable. Surface Ig levels of CD4+ T cells were closely associated with the CD4 cell number in HIV-infected patients of all stages of disease (r = -0.67, P = 0.00005). Other lymphocyte subsets' surface Ig did not show a significant association to CD4 cell depletion. Surface Ig and antibodies against CD4+ T cells were not related to levels of beta 2-microglobulin, p24 antibodies or interleukin-6 (IL-6), and did not depend on hypergammaglobulinaemia. In conclusion surface Ig on CD4+ T cells is likely to have an autoantibody origin. The high prevalence and association to CD4 depletion support the view that autoimmune phenomena could be involved in the pathogenesis of AIDS.
Müller
C
C
Department of Dermatology, University of Bonn, Germany.
Kukel
S
S
Bauer
R
R
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin