High levels in serum, but no signs of intrathecal synthesis of anti-sulfatide antibodies in HIV-1 infected individuals with or without central nervous system complications

Myelin degeneration is commonly found in the central nervous system (CNS) o f individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), es pecially in patients with HIV-1-associated dementia. We analysed cerebrospi nal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from 25 HIV-1 infected individuals for th e presence of antibodies directed against sulfatide, the major acidic glyco sphingolipid in myelin. Nine of the patients had CNS complications, includi ng 3 with HIV-1-associated dementia, and 16 had no neurological symptoms. E levated titres of anti-sulfatide antibodies were found in serum from 24/25 HIV-1-infected individuals but in none of them in the CSF. Although the vas t majority of HIV-1-infected individuals harbour autoantibodies directed ag ainst sulfatide in serum, the lack of detectable intrathecal production ind icates that anti-sulfatide antibodies are not a major component in the path ogenesis of CNS myelin damage in HIV-1 infection. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.