title: Assessment of HIV-intrathecal humoral immune response in AIDS-related neurological disorders.
abstract: Intrathecal synthesis of IgG directed to HIV antigens was investigated by antibody specific index (ASI), affinity-mediated immunoblot (AMI) and Western blot (WB) assay in a group of 88 AIDS patients of which 28 with HIV-associated neurological disorders (HAND), 13 without associated neurological disorders (WAND) and 47 with non-HIV-associated neurological disorders (non-HAND). CD4+ count was above 50 cells/mm3 (CD4+>50) in 30 and below 50/mm3 (CD4+<50) in 58 patients, respectively. A significantly higher frequency for CSF complete anti-gag profile (p<0.001), and for HIV-specific oligoclonal patterns ("mixed" pattern=p<0.01) was observed in HAND as compared to patterns from the other clinical groups. A decrease in complete anti-env, anti-pol and anti-gag reactivity was present in CSF of patients with CD4+<50 as compared to those with CD4+>50. Our findings suggest that AIDS appears to be characterized by an anti-HIV intrathecal humoral immune response which is principally directed to env products with a prevalence of oligoclonal patterns and CSF complete anti-gag profile in HIV-associated neurological involvement.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurology, University of Ferrara, Arcispedale S. Anna, Corso della Giovecca 203, 1-44100, Ferrara, Italy. henryfai@tin.it
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fainardi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Contini
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Benassi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bedetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castellazzi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vaghi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Govoni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paolino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balboni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Granieri
mesh_terms: D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000276:immunology; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000276:immunology; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015686:Gene Products, env; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G