title: Altered in vitro handling of Mycobacterium avium complex by monocytes and serum from HIV(+) patients.
abstract: In patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), mycobacterial diseases are leading opportunistic infections. The reasons for the peculiar propensity for disseminated infection with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) remain unclear. We have previously examined, in detail, the ability of monocytes from healthy donors to take up and kill MAC under both nonopsonic and opsonic conditions. We have now evaluated the in vitro ability of peripheral blood monocytes from HIV(+) patients to take up and kill MAC organisms, and have discovered a reduced ability under both nonopsonic and opsonic conditions. This reduction is due to: 1) apparent defect(s) in the phagocytes themselves, and 2) substance(s) in the HIV(+) serum which actively suppresses phagocyte activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Roecklein
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yeager
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005936:Glucans / Q000494:pharmacology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D047071:beta-Glucans
chemical_list: D005936:Glucans; D047071:beta-Glucans; C064197:beta-1,6-glucan