Seroepidemiologic studies of cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus infections in relation to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in selected recipient populations

Article Abstract:

Studies using tissue cultures have shown that cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), herpes simplex virus, and other viruses can activate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A study was conducted to see if the epidemiology of the herpesviruses CMV and EBV was similar to that of HIV, and if infection with CMV or EBV affected immunological status or increased the rate of progression of HIV disease. The presence of antibodies against CMV, EBV, and HIV was evaluated in 97 blood donors, in 577 persons with clotting disorders who were given blood components or products, and in 577 other individuals who were used as controls. There were significantly higher numbers of people with antibodies against CMV who also had antibodies against HIV compared with those without antibodies against HIV. The presence of antibodies against CMV was higher among homosexual and bisexual individuals who were HIV-positive than among those who were heterosexual. There were high rates of EBV infection among all the individuals, but there was no difference in the rate of infection among individuals who tested HIV-positive or HIV-negative. It was concluded that in nonhomosexual populations the rates of CMV and EBV infection are not related to HIV infection. When the presence of antibodies against CMV or EBV was analyzed in relationship to the stage of HIV infection, no correlation was found between the presence of antibodies against early antigens of EBV and the stage of HIV infection. Antibodies against CMV in individuals without HIV antibodies was associated with an increased number of T lymphocytes that contained the marker CD8. This is indicative of T cells involved in the suppression of the immune response, or T cells involved in the destruction of infected cells. These results suggest that the progression of HIV is independent of CMV or EBV infection. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Demographic aspects, Epstein-Barr virus, Cytomegaloviruses, Cytomegalovirus

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Lymphocyte immunophenotypes among anti-HTLV-I/-II-positive blood donors and recipients

Article Abstract:

Over 200,000 blood samples collected in late 1984 through early 1985 were screened for the presence of antibodies against the human T-lymphotropic virus type-I/-II (HTLV-I/-II). The types and numbers of subsets of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell involved in immune reactions) of 48 individuals who were infected with HTLV-I/-II and nine individuals who underwent a blood transfusion receiving blood from individuals testing positive for the virus were further studied. There were no changes in the types or numbers of lymphocytes of the nine transfusion recipients, who had been infected for 1.8 to 4.5 years. The types and numbers of lymphocytes of these individuals were similar to uninfected individuals. However, the immune profile of those infected in 1984 and 1985 changed significantly. The overall number of T cells and natural killer cells (immune cells) increased. The number of T cells that were activated or stimulated to proliferate increased and the ratio between the number of T helper and T suppressor cells also increased. Therefore, this study shows that long-term but not short-term infection with HTLV-I/-II changes the types and numbers of certain subsets of lymphocytes. Twelve individuals were found to be infected with both HTLV and the human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1; the virus that causes AIDS). These individuals had decreased numbers of activated T cells. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Physiological aspects, T cells, Blood transfusion, Lymphocytes, Killer cells, HTLV infections

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Comparative rates of disease progression among persons infected with the same or different HIV-1 strains

Article Abstract:

An individual's immune response to HIV infection may have a greater effect on disease severity and progression than the infection strain type. CD4 counts and viral RNA levels were used as measures of disease severity among 43 groups of HIV-positive patients and their infected family members or partners. Each group, therefore, represented two or more generations of the same virus type. There was no apparent pattern in the CD4 counts or viral RNA levels within each patient group.

Analysis, HIV infection, HIV infections, Host-virus relationships, CD4 lymphocytes

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