GM3 as a target of anti-lymphocytic ganglioside antibodies in AIDS patients.
IgG antibodies reacting with the GM3-comigrating band extracted from pooled AIDS lymphocytes were detected in 33.3% of AIDS patients sera, in 8% of asymptomatic anti-HIV-positive subjects, in none of the sera obtained from asymptomatic anti-HIV-negative drug abusers, from patients with acute B and chronic C hepatitis, and from healthy donors. All positive sera reacted selectively with the GM3-comigrating band obtained from AIDS lymphocytes but not with the corresponding band from normal lymphocytes. The lymphocytic ganglioside autoantigen was revealed as GM3. In addition, two main data were shown: (a) AIDS lymphocytes have an increased concentration of GM3 and (b) the ceramide of AIDS lymphocytic GM3 has a different percentual composition of fatty acids in contrast to control cells. It is suggested that these quantitative and qualitative changes might be responsible for the appearance of circulating anti-lymphocytic GM3 antibodies.
Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
R
R
Misasi
M
M
Sorice
T
T
Griggi
F
F
d'Agostino
T
T
Garofalo
C
C
Masala
G M
GM
Pontieri
L
L
Lenti
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000097:blood*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002518:Ceramides / Q000032:analysis; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood; D005679:G(M3) Ganglioside / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male
D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D002241:Carbohydrates; D002518:Ceramides; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005679:G(M3) Ganglioside; D005732:Gangliosides