title: The CD4 molecule, the human immunodeficiency virus and anti-idiotypic antibodies.
abstract: The CD4 molecule is the cellular receptor for human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV). Administration of antibodies to the equivalent molecule in mice (L3T4) induces unresponsiveness to antigens given to or around the same time. Here Paolo del Guercio and Maurizio Zanetti suggest that in AIDS patients anti-idiotypic antibodies elicited to anti-HIV antibodies may bind to CD4 molecules, inducing unresponsiveness to viral and other antigens as anti-L3T4 antibodies do in mice. This possibility may hinder attempts to establish anti-HIV immunity by vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Medical Biology Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Del Guercio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanetti