Immunologic parameters in early-stage HIV-seropositive subjects associated with vaccine responsiveness

Article Abstract:

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, which causes AIDS) may lead to impaired immune function, even in HIV-infected individuals who have not developed symptoms of illness. The immunological responses against three types of vaccines were assessed in 21 individuals who had antibodies in their blood against HIV (HIV seropositive), but who did not have any symptoms of disease. Twenty individuals who did not have antibodies against HIV (HIV seronegative) served as controls. The three vaccines were: multiple, live but weakened, viral vaccines; viral protein molecules, known as toxoids; and viral sugar molecules. All of the seronegative individuals responded to two or more types of vaccines, compared with 48 percent (10 of 21) of the seropositive individuals. Fifty-two percent (11 of 21) of the seropositive subjects responded to only one of the three types of vaccines used. Laboratory tests revealed that the immune systems of the nonresponders were dysfunctioning. Abnormalities included defects in the functioning of helper T cells, defects in the suppression of the immune response, defects in B cells, and increased production of nonspecific antibody molecules. These abnormalities could be used to predict nonresponsiveness to the vaccines. These data suggest that in early stages of HIV infection, before clinical symptoms develop, many functions of the immune system are defective. This effect was observed in the weakened responses to the three types of vaccines. These findings must be taken into consideration when developing vaccines against HIV. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Causes of, Immunodeficiency, HIV seropositivity, HIV positive

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Humoral responses to linear epitopes on the HIV-1 envelope in seropositive volunteers after vaccine therapy with rgp160

Article Abstract:

Vaccination with HIV-1 rgp160 may be effective in increasing the variety of antibodies HIV infected patients generate against the virus. Twenty-eight patients in the early stages of HIV infection received vaccinations of rgp160. Researchers used immunoblotting and PEPSCAN, a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), to analyze levels of antibodies generated against various sections of the HIV envelope called epitopes. For patients who were followed for 12 to 20 months, the average reactivity to various epitopes regions increased. Reactivity to C2 increased from 0% to 46%, for C3 from 0% to 82%, for C1 from 62% to 100%. PEPSCAN on eight of the patients indicated new immune response to envelope epitopes V1, C3, and C5. Furthermore, the PEPSCAN method provides a way to measure antibody response to specific epitopes.

Care and treatment

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Transcriptional effects of superinfection in HIV chronically infected T cells: studies in dually infected clones

Article Abstract:

Some strains of HIV appear to inhibit other strains when both are present in T cells. The infection of a cell by one strain when the cell is already infected with another is called superinfection. Normally, HIV-infected cells resist superinfection, but several researchers have successfully superinfected cell cultures. One group has found that the RF strain of HIV can superinfect cells infected with the LAI strain. When this happens, the RF strain inhibits the LAI strain, possibly because it has a more active Tat protein and because of its integration site on the host DNA.

Infection, HIV (Viruses), HIV, T cells

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