Association of viral load in plasma samples of HIV-infected hemophilia patients with autoantibodies and gp120-containing immune complexes on CD4+ lymphocytes.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether the induction of antilymphocyte autoantibodies and immune complexes is associated with the activity of HIV replication.


METHODS
Viral HIV-1 RNA was measured in the plasma samples of 84 HIV+ hemophilia patients and correlated with the IgM, IgG, IgM/IgG and IgM/IgG/gp120 load of circulating CD4+ lymphocytes, CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts, plasma neopterin levels and in vitro T-cell responses to mitogens and pooled allogeneic stimulator cells.


RESULTS
Compared to patients with no immune complexes, on circulating CD4+ lymphocytes, viral load was increased in patients with IgM, IgM/IgG or IgM/IgG/gp120 complexes. Sequential analysis of HIV+ patients showed that peaks of retroviral activity were associated with the subsequent formation of CD4+ lymphocyte-reactive IgM and IgG autoantibodies and gp120-containing immune complexes.


CONCLUSIONS
The induction of autoantibodies and immune complexes attached to CD4+ lymphocytes is associated with periods of increased viral activity in HIV-infected patients.
Daniel
V
V
Department of Transplantation Immunology, Institute of Immunology, University of Heidelberg, Germany. Volker_Daniel@krzmail.krz.uni-heidelberg.de
Süsal
C
C
Weimer
R
R
Zipperle
S
S
Kröpelin
M
M
Melk
A
A
Zimmermann
R
R
Huth-Kühne
A
A
Opelz
G
G
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000032:analysis*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D019562:Viral Load
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M