IS THERE IGA OF GUT MUCOSAL ORIGIN IN THE SERUM OF HIV-1-INFECTED PATIENTS

This study was performed in 77 HIV1 seropositive adult patients to cha racterise the IgA hyperglobulinaemia seen in the serum during the cour se of HIV infection. It was shown that both IgA1 and IgA2 subclass con centrations were simultaneously increased but the IgA1 increase was pr edominant. Secretory IgA (SIgA) concentration was significantly increa sed and IgA activity to gliadin, bovine serum albumin, and casein coul d be detected and was correlated with SIgA concentration. In contrast, IgA activity to cytomegalovirus and to tetanus toroid did not correla te with total IgA concentration. These data suggest the presence of Ig A from gut mucosal origin in the serum of these patients. Hyper IgA wa s inversely correlated with the CD4(+) cell number. The increase of al l parameters studied varied according to the total IgA concentration i n the serum but was also directly related to the stage of immune defic iency in patients with hyper IgA.