INDUCTION AND EXPRESSION OF INTESTINAL HUMORAL IMMUNITY IN HIV-INFECTED INDIVIDUALS - PROSPECTS FOR VACCINATION AGAINST SECONDARY ENTERIC INFECTIONS

In view of the high incidence and severity of AIDS-related mucosal com plications and secondary mucosal infections, we have evaluated the imp act of HIV infection on the mucosal humoral immune status. By measurin g the number of total and specific antibody-secreting cells in duodena l biopsies, we could show that HIV infection induces a pronounced poly clonal B-cell activation already in the early stages of the disease. F urthermore, we could document normal mucosal B-cell responses followin g oral vaccination, also in the late stages of the disease, and despit e a lack of concomitant systemic responses. The relevance of these obs ervations will be discussed with respect to the possibility of vaccina ting HIV-infected individuals against secondary opportunistic infectio ns.