IN-VITRO SYNTHESIS OF ANTIBODIES TO TOXOPLASMA-GONDII BY LYMPHOCYTES FROM HIV-1-INFECTED PATIENTS

Toxoplasma-specific in-vitro antibody production by peripheral blood l ymphocytes (PBL) was investigated in 124 adults infected with human im munodeficiency virus (HIV-1). PBL from 20 of 21 patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis showed spontaneous in-vitro secretion of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii antigens. Among 103 HIV-1-infected patients without signs or symptoms of toxoplasmosis, PBL from 19 produced toxoplasma-sp ecific antibodies in vitro; 5 of these patients, who discontinued prop hylaxis for toxoplasmic encephalitis, showed in-vitro antibody product ion 3-15 months before the diagnosis of toxoplasmic encephalitis. In-v itro production of toxoplasma-specific antibodies could improve the di agnosis of toxoplasmic encephalitis in HIV-1-infected patients.