8th International AIDS Conference Amsterdam, Netherlands — July 19-24, 1992

Int Conf AIDS 1992 Jul 19-24; 8:We53 (abstract no. WeA 1048)
Visscher B, Detels R, Kan JL, Dudley J, Giorgi J, Lee M; UCLA School of Public Health.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the immunologic profile of 30 persistently HIV antibody-negative men (who had a very high number of different partners) from whom HIV isolations were obtained at least once with comparable persistently HIV seronegative men in the MACS.

METHODS: Numbers of white blood cells, lymphocytes, CD4 cells, and CD8 cells were measured by flow cytometry in all MACS participants at 6-month intervals from 1984-5 through 1991 (a total of 13 visits). The 30 isolation-positive, antibody-negative men were matched 2:1 with antibody-negative men for each visit by number of partners 6 months prior to that visit for comparison of mean values.

RESULTS: Mean levels of WBCs, lymphocytes, CD4 cells, and CD8 cells for all visits combined were significantly lower in men from whom isolations were made than levels in matched controls. In addition, at each of the 13 visits mean levels of lymphocytes, CD4 cells, and CD8 cells were lower in the seronegative men from whom an isolation was ever obtained. Mean numbers of WBCs at all visits except the first visit were also lower in men from whom isolations were made. Comparison of levels of these parameters at each visit within each matched pair (1:1 match) indicated a statistically significant difference in number of lymphocytes, CD4 cells, and CD8 cells (P less than .00001) and for number of WBCs (P less than .007), with levels in isolation-positive men being lower than in matched antibody-negative men. Repeated isolation attempts were not successful in these men after they had reduced their average number of different anal partners to one or less. Thus, they are probably not latently infected.

CONCLUSION: The results suggest that some immune parameters are different in men who resist HIV infection despite probable repeated exposure to HIV and that these differences reduce the probability that HIV infection will be successfully established. Evaluation of the level of serum markers of immune activation (currently under way) may help clarify the mechanism of resistance.

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