Studies of cellular immunity in male homosexuals in London. 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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Studies of cellular immunity in male homosexuals in London.

Lancet. 1983 Jul 16;2(8342):126-30. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/83243594
Pinching AJ; McManus TJ; Jeffries DJ; Moshtael O; Donaghy M; Parkin JM; Munday PE; Harris JR

Abstract: 97 symptom-free homosexuals were studied clinically, serologically, and with in-vivo and in-vitro tests of cellular immune function in the context of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A high proportion of these men showed abnormalities: lymphopenia (33%), decreased T-helper/T-suppressor (Th/Ts) cell ratios (43%), both these abnormalities (12%), decreased total T-helper cells (15%), monocyte chemotactic (10%) and phagocytic (27%) defects, anergy to three recall antigens (32%), and anergy to purified protein derivative despite BCG inoculation (55%). The lymphocyte abnormalities and anergy characteristic of AIDS were seen in 5%. No clear clinical or serological associations were seen for the AIDS-like defects. Trends of association were seen between higher lymphocyte counts, lower Th/Ts ratios, more T-suppressor cells and serological evidence of previous virus infection. The combination of lymphocyte abnormalities and anergy observed in these symptom-free homosexuals may represent a latent phase of AIDS.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/IMMUNOLOGY Adolescence Adult Aged *Homosexuality Human Immunity, Cellular Infection/IMMUNOLOGY Leukocyte Count London Lymphopenia/IMMUNOLOGY Male Middle Age Random Allocation Sarcoma, Kaposi's/IMMUNOLOGY Support, Non-U.S. Gov't T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer T-Lymphocytes, Suppressor-Effector JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/immunologyadolescenceadultagedKWDhomosexualityhumanimmunity,cellularinfection/immunologyleukocytecountlondonlymphopenia/immunologymalemiddleagerandomallocationsarcoma,kaposi's/immunologysupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tt-lymphocytes,helper-inducert-lymphocytes,suppressor-effectorjournalarticle
831030
M83A0006

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

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