Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Anti-CD4 antibodies are associated with a specific decrease in CD4-positive lymphocytes in HIV-1 seroconverters. The Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS).
Abstr Gen Meet Am Soc Microbiol. 1993;93:435 (abstract no. T-22). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASM93/93291817 Keay S; Wecksler W; Wasserman SS; Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, MD.
Abstract:
We previously showed that anti-CD4 antibodies may be present in up to 85% of persons at the time of HIV-1 seroconversion, the timing of which response suggests that these anti-CD4 antibodies are generated as anti-idiotype antibodies against anti-gp 120/160 antibodies made in response to HIV-1 infection. Such anti-idiotype anti-CD4 antibodies were previously shown by us and others to be generated in response to HIV-1 infection or rgp 160 immunization. The significance of these antibodies regarding the development of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is unknown. 161 serum specimens obtained from 31 HIV-1 infected persons at six month intervals surrounding the time of HIV-1 seroconversion were tested for anti-CD4 activity by ELISA and Western blot, and the results compared to total CD4-positive and CD8-positive cell counts obtained at the same time points. Anti-CD4 antibodies were detectable at the time of HIV-1 seroconversion in 83% of these persons by ELISA, and 76% by Western blot. For each of 18 persons for whom CD4-positive and CD8-positive cell counts were available at the appropriate time points, a greater drop in CD4-positive cell counts occurred during the six months immediately preceding the detection of anti-CD4 antibodies than in the previous six months during which anti-CD4 antibodies were not detected (Sign test, n = 18, p = 0.008). These same persons did not have a drop in CD8-positive cell count during this time (p = 0.81). These results confirm our earlier findings that anti-CD4 antibodies are frequently present in the sera of HIV-1 infected persons at the time of HIV-1 seroconversion, and show that the appearance of these antibodies is correlated with a specific decrease in CD4-positive cell counts, suggesting that they may play a role in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/BLOOD/*IMMUNOLOGY Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic/*BLOOD Antibody Formation Antigens, CD4/*IMMUNOLOGY Blotting, Western Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Gene Products, env/IMMUNOLOGY Human HIV Antibodies/BLOOD HIV Envelope Protein gp120/IMMUNOLOGY HIV Seropositivity/BLOOD/*IMMUNOLOGY *HIV-1 Protein Precursors/IMMUNOLOGY Recombinant Proteins/IMMUNOLOGY T-Lymphocyte Subsets/*IMMUNOLOGY ABSTRACT 930930
M9391154
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
