C. Brostrom et al., SITE-DIRECTED SEROLOGY OF HIV-1 SUBTYPE-B INFECTION - RELATION BETWEEN VIRUS-SPECIFIC ANTIBODY-LEVELS AND DISEASE PROGRESSION, Clinical and experimental immunology, 106(1), 1996, pp. 35-39
Activated T helper (Th) cell-dependent (TD) antibody responses were de
termined over an 8-10 year period in 25 patients infected with HIV-1 s
ubtype B. Twelve patients remain asymptomatic with normal CD4(+) cell
counts for 101-114 months. These individuals were defined as long-term
asymptomatic (LTA). Sixteen patients progressed to severe immunodefic
iency within 58-120 months. In samples derived close to the diagnosis
of HIV-I, CD4(+) cell counts were higher among the LTAs (P < 0.01). An
tibody production driven by activated Th cells was determined using pe
ptides corresponding to HIV-I V3US/Eur, gp41, and the hepatitis C viru
s (HCV) core proteins. The less Th cell-dependent B cell antibody resp
onse was represented by measles virus immunity. Close to HIV-1 diagnos
is, variable third (V3), gp41, HCV core, and measles antibody titres w
ere at similar levels among the LTAs and the progressors. With time th
e LTAs displayed unchanged levels of V3 and gp41 antibodies, and sligh
tly decreasing levels of HCV core antibodies (P < 0.05). In contrast.
the progressors showed a decrease in all these antibody responses (P <
0.05, for all). In both groups, the levels of measles antibody remain
ed stable. Our data show that no significant change of the antibody re
sponses of LTAs is seen, even after 101-114 months of known HIV-I infe
ction. Furthermore, the marked decrease of TD antibody production in t
he progressors suggests that activated Th cells may be excellent targe
ts for HIV-1 infection.