Document 0673
 DOCN  M9550673
 TI    The affinity of IgG antibodies to gag p24 and p17 in HIV-1-infected
       patients correlates with disease progression.
 DT    9505
 AU    Chargelegue D; Stanley CM; O'Toole CM; Colvin BT; Steward MW; London
       Hospital Medical College, UK.
 SO    Clin Exp Immunol. 1995 Feb;99(2):175-81. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/95153898
 AB    The affinity of anti-gag antibody was studied for up to 9 years
       (1984-1993) in sera from 15 HIV-1+ patients with haemophilia. On the
       basis of their 1993 clinical status patients were divided into two
       groups: (i) patients who remained asymptomatic (n = 9); and (ii) those
       who progressed to AIDS between late 1987 and 1993. The affinity
       constants of antibody for p24 and p17 were determined by a double
       isotope fluid-phase radioimmunoassay; and the relationships between
       antibody affinity and titre, patient clinical course, CD4 cell counts
       and p24 antigenaemia were analysed. The affinity of p24- and
       p17-specific antibody was up to 100 times greater in asymptomatic
       patients than in patients who progressed to AIDS. Patients who developed
       AIDS either lost or failed to develop high-affinity antibodies early in
       the infection. Asymptomatic patients maintained high-affinity antibodies
       for several years; however, in some of these patients the affinity of
       anti-p24 and p17 antibodies subsequently fell later in the study period.
       The presence of low-affinity antibody and progressive reduction in the
       titre of specific antibody were earlier predictors of disease onset than
       CD4 cell counts. The failure to either develop or maintain high affinity
       gag-specific antibody suggests an early impairment of T helper function
       in individuals who progressed to AIDS. The presence of antibody of high
       affinity could be essential in controlling virus replication and the
       onset of AIDS.
 DE    Antibody Affinity/IMMUNOLOGY  Cohort Studies  CD4 Lymphocyte Count
       CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY  Disease Progression
       Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay  Gene Products, gag/*IMMUNOLOGY  Human
       HIV Antibodies/BLOOD/*IMMUNOLOGY  HIV Antigens/*IMMUNOLOGY  HIV Core
       Protein p24/*IMMUNOLOGY  HIV Infections/*IMMUNOLOGY/MORTALITY
       HIV-1/*IMMUNOLOGY  IgG/*IMMUNOLOGY  Radioimmunoassay/METHODS  Support,
       Non-U.S. Gov't  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).