Abnormalities of B-cell activation and immunoregulation in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1983. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Abnormalities of B-cell activation and immunoregulation in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

N Engl J Med. 1983 Aug 25;309(8):453-8. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/83271352
Lane HC; Masur H; Edgar LC; Whalen G; Rook AH; Fauci AS

Abstract: We studied B-lymphocyte function in 12 homosexual male patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, 5 healthy homosexual men, and 12 heterosexual controls. In comparison with the heterosexual controls, the patients were found to have elevated numbers of cells spontaneously secreting immunoglobulin, decreased B-cell proliferative responses to T-cell-independent B-cell mitogens, and qualitatively deficient helper T cells. The hyperactive spontaneous B-cell responses as well as the refractoriness to signals for T-cell-independent B-cell activation were highly suggestive of an in vivo polyclonal activation of B cells and may have been responsible for the manifestations of B-cell hyperreactivity, such as hypergammaglobulinemia, seen in these patients. We conclude that the scope of immune dysfunction in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome involves B cells as well as T cells.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*IMMUNOLOGY Adolescence Adult Antibody Formation Antibody-Producing Cells B-Lymphocytes/*IMMUNOLOGY Hemolytic Plaque Technique *Homosexuality Human Hypergammaglobulinemia/ETIOLOGY Immunoglobulins/ANALYSIS/*BIOSYNTHESIS Leukocyte Count Male T-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/IMMUNOLOGY T-Lymphocytes, Suppressor-Effector/IMMUNOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDimmunologyadolescenceadultantibodyformationantibody-producingcellsb-lymphocytes/KWDimmunologyhemolyticplaquetechniqueKWDhomosexualityhumanhypergammaglobulinemia/etiologyimmunoglobulins/analysis/KWDbiosynthesisleukocytecountmalet-lymphocytes/immunologyt-lymphocytes,helper-inducer/immunologyt-lymphocytes,suppressor-effector/immunologyjournalarticle
831130
M83B0013

Copyright © 1983 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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