Antibody to human endogenous retrovirus peptide in urine of human immunodeficiency virus type 1-positive patients

Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-like sequences are normal inherited elem ents that constitute several hundredths of the human genome. The expression of genes located within these elements can occur as a consequence of sever al different events, including persistent inflammation or genotoxic events. Antibodies to endogenous retroviral gene products have been found in a num ber of infectious, chronic, and malignant diseases, suggesting a role in di sease initiation and progression. We studied human immunodeficiency virus t ype 1 (HIV-l)-infected patients for evidence of urine antibody to a HERV pe ptide and investigated correlates with clinical and laboratory parameters. Forty-three HIV-l-infected patients in documented asymptomatic, symptomatic , or AIDS stages of disease and 21 age- and gender-matched, uninfected cont rols were tested for antibody to HERV-related peptide 4.1. Urine specimens were examined in a blinded fashion with the Calypte Biomedical Corp. experi mental enzyme immunoassay for antibody to peptide 4.1, Results were compare d with demographic data, medical history, clinical state of disease, and re sults of other laboratory tests. Thirty-six percent of the asymptomatic (Ce nters for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] category A) and 81.3% of bot h the symptomatic (CDC category B) and AIDS (CDC category C) patients were positive for antibody to HERV-related peptide 4.1. None of the controls wer e positive. In this study, antibodies to HERV-related peptide 4.1 were foun d more frequently in patients with advanced stages (categories B and C) of HIV-I disease than in those patients with an earlier stage (category A) of HIV disease, In HIV patients, severe immunosuppression, defined as having h ad at least one opportunistic infection, correlated with the expression of antibody to a HERV-related peptide.