HIV-1 IgA specific serum antibodies and disease progression during HIV-1 infection.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of serum human immunodeficiency virus type 1 immunoglobulin A (HIV-1 IgA) antibodies in the progression of HIV-1 infection in relation to viral load and CD4 cell counts.


METHODS
Sequential serum specimens were obtained from 218 homosexual men: 123 HIV-1 seropositives, 24 HIV-1 seroconverters, and 71 HIV-1 seronegatives. HIV-1 IgA antibodies were tested blindly by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot. T-lymphocyte subsets were measured by flow cytometry. Viral plasma load was determined by a sensitive branched DNA assay.


RESULTS
HIV-1 IgA antibodies with a titer greater than or equal to 50 were detected among 50% of the seroconverters, 27% of the HIV-1-seropositive asymptomatic subjects, 25% of lymphadenopathy, and 23% of HIV-1-related symptomatic subjects. Among patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome, the prevalence of virus-specific IgA antibodies (55%) was significantly higher (p < 0.03) as compared with the HIV-1-seropositive asymptomatic subjects, lymphadenopathy and HIV-1-related symptomatic patients, but not versus the seroconverters (p = 0.8). IgA antibodies to HIV-1 gP160 were the most prevalent among all subjects tested. A significant decrease in CD4 cell counts was observed after HIV-1 seroconversion. Viral load was slightly higher among the seroconverters who demonstrated higher (> or =50) HIV-1 IgA levels.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV-1 IgA serum antibodies did not predict the progression of the disease. Correlation between HIV-1 IgA antibodies titer, viral load, and CD4 cell counts was not detected.
Margalith
M
M
Virology Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Levy
E
E
Rinaldo
C R
CR
Detels
R
R
Phair
J
J
Kaslow
R
R
Saah
A J
AJ
Sarov
B
B
D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019562:Viral Load
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A