Abstract
Objective: We investigated whether the induction of antilymphocyte autoantibodies and immune complexes is associated with the activity of HIV replication. Methods: Viral HIV-1 RNA was measured in the plasma samples of 84 HIV+ hemophilia patients and correlated with the IgM, IgG, IgM/IgG and IgM/IgG/gp120 load of circulating CD4 + lymphocytes, CD4 + and CD8 + cell counts, plasma neopterin levels and in vitro T-cell responses to mitogens and pooled allogeneic stimulator cells. Results: Compared to patients with no immune complexes, on circulating CD4 + lymphocytes, viral load was increased in patients with IgM, IgM/IgG or IgM/IgG/gp120 complexes. Sequential analysis of HIV+ patients showed that peaks of retroviral activity were associated with the subsequent formation of CD4 + lymphocyte-reactive IgM and IgG autoantibodies and gp120-containing immune complexes. Conclusion: The induction of autoantibodies and immune complexes attached to CD4 + lymphocytes is associated with periods of increased viral activity in HIV-infected patients.
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