THE POSSIBLE PATHOGENIC ROLE OF THE HYPERACTIVE B-LYMPHOCYTES IN AIDS NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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THE POSSIBLE PATHOGENIC ROLE OF THE HYPERACTIVE B-LYMPHOCYTES IN AIDS

AIDS. The Epidemic of Kaposi's Sarcoma and Opportunistic Infections. Friedman-Kien AE, Laubenstein LJ, eds. New York, Masson, p. 161-8, 1984.. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/85610701
Zolla-Pazner S; Sidhu G; Dept. of Pathology, New York Univ. Medical Center, New York, NY; 10016

Abstract: Hypotheses regarding B-cell hyperactivity in the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are discussed. B-cell hyperactivity in AIDS is suggested by an increased incidence of B-cell lymphomas; by polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia in 90% of cases; by follicular hyperplasia; by effacement of follicular architecture in acute episodes of AIDS; by reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus, which infects B-cells; and by elevation of serum beta-2 microglobulin. In AIDS patients, the proliferative response of mononuclear cells to B-cell mitogen is suppressed to a greater degree than the corresponding responses to T-cell mitogen. From these observations, AIDS is hypothesized to be a disease of B-cells, in which B-cell hyperactivity is a primary event that causes stimulation of T-suppressor cells and subsequent depression of cellular immunity. This resembles the enhanced suppressor activity of infectious mononucleosis and of multiple myeloma. In addition, induction of suppressor cell activation has been documented in vitro and in animal models. Hypotheses arguing for T-cell aberrations as the primary event in AIDS fail to explain B-cell hyperactivity or the prevalence of B-cell lymphomas. (33 Refs)
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/COMPLICATIONS/*IMMUNOLOGY/ PATHOLOGY Antibodies, Viral/IMMUNOLOGY B-Lymphocytes/*IMMUNOLOGY Herpesvirus 4, Human/IMMUNOLOGY Human Hypergammaglobulinemia/COMPLICATIONS Hyperplasia Infection/COMPLICATIONS Lymph Nodes/PATHOLOGY Lymphocyte Transformation Sarcoma, Kaposi's/COMPLICATIONS MEETING PAPER REVIEW

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/complications/KWDimmunology/pathologyantibodies,viral/immunologyb-lymphocytes/KWDimmunologyherpesvirus4,human/immunologyhumanhypergammaglobulinemia/complicationshyperplasiainfection/complicationslymphnodes/pathologylymphocytetransformationsarcoma,kaposi's/complicationsmeetingpaperreview
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Copyright © 1985 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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