MOLECULAR MIMICRY BETWEEN HIV-1 AND ANTIGEN RECEPTOR MOLECULES - A CLUE TO THE PATHOGENESIS OF AIDS

There is increasing evidence that autoimmune phenomena play an importa nt role in the immunopathogenesis of AIDS. We found a high degree of s equence homology between HIV-1 and antigen receptor molecules, immunog lobulins and T cell receptors. Based on recent findings that the appea rance of anti-Fab autoantibodies and attachment of gp120/immunoglobuli n/complement complexes on CD4+ T cells are associated with the decreas e of CD4+ T cells in HIV-infected patients, we hypothesize herein that cross-reactive anti-F (ab')2 autoantibodies and circulating gp120 mol ecules are responsible for a destabilization of the immune network and the elimination of CD4+ T cells.