BIOLOGICAL EFFECT OF ACTIVE ANTI-IFN-ALPHA IMMUNIZATION IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS

Circulating interferon (IFN) was investigated in HIV-1 seropositive pa tients by measuring the IFN alpha antiviral effect in the serum. While serum of healthy seronegative individuals exhibits an antiviral effec t, not due to IFNs, considered as background, serum of seropositive pa tients showed an additional antiviral effect due to the abnormal prese nce of IFN alpha. Increased titers of IFN alpha were found in the cour se of the HIV infection and seemed to correlate with the evolution of AIDS disease. Furthermore, patients immunized against IFN alpha had bo th stabilized CD4 cell count and decreased IFN alpha in their serum. H IV-1-infected patients also exhibited higher titers of natural anti-IF N antibodies than seronegative controls and the level of specific anti bodies (Abs) markedly increased in immunized patients. Finally, serum from immunized patients, when compared to seronegative controls, exhib its an interferon neutralizing capacity.