AUTOPROLIFERATION IN HIV-1-INFECTED PATIENTS UNDERGOING ACTIVE HIV-1-SPECIFIC IMMUNOTHERAPY

We have observed a treatment-associated autoproliferative response in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of asymptomatic HIV -1-infected subjects receiving a gp120-depleted, inactivated HIV-1 ant igen in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA; HIV-1 Immunogen). The frequ ency and magnitude of the autoproliferative response appeared to be do se-related (P < 0.05), and was not observed in subjects receiving IFA alone. Immunophenotyping of the proliferating cells demonstrated the p resence of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes, with the CD4(+) blasts almost exclusively expressing the CD45RO(+) phenotype. A comparison of this response with the HIV-1-specific antigen stimulation responses i n this cohort revealed a significant correlation between increases in HIV-1-specific cell-mediated immunity and autoproliferation (r(2) = 0. 61, P < 0.001). These findings suggest that immunization with the HIV- 1 Immunogen induces an autoproliferative response that may reflect cha nges in HIV-1-specific cell-mediated immunity in infected individuals.