title: Viral and immunologic examination of human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected, persistently seronegative persons.
abstract: Persons who were human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected but who remained persistently seronegative (HIPS) on HIV-1 antibody tests were examined through AIDS case surveillance. Six such individuals (HIPS-1 to -4, -7, and -9) were examined to determine whether their persistent seronegativity was attributable to immune dysfunction or infection with atypical HIV. Of the 6, 4 had antibody titers to at least 1 other common pathogen. In vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIPS-4 and HIPS-7 with pokeweed mitogen or phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide (direct B cell mitogen) did not produce HIV-1-specific antibody. Reconstitution experiments with recombinant interleukin (rIL)-4 and rIL-12 also had no impact on antibody production. Virus isolates from HIPS-4 and -9 were R5X4-tropic, whereas HIPS-7 was CCR5-tropic only. Sequence analysis of long terminal repeat, p24, and env gp41 did not reveal any specific mutation, and phylogenetic analysis confirmed that all 6 virus specimens were HIV-1 subtype B. These data suggest that the lack of a detectable antibody response in these patients may be the result of immune dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: HIV/AIDS Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. dxe1@cdc.gov
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ellenberger
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dorn
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schable
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Spira
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Folks
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Lal
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry; D015754:Genes, nef; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013873:Thionucleotides
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013873:Thionucleotides; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4