AIDS--an autoimmune model

In AIDS a complementary interface between the HIV virus and the CD4 molecule of the T4 lymphocyte suggest a possible cause of immune self-recognition. Because of this complementarity, an anti-idiotypic immune response to the CD4 attachment area of HIV should result in an autoimmune reaction to CD4 positive lymphocytes. Experimental demonstration of such an immune recognition model by autoreactive lymphocytes is presented and a hypothetical immune response unit is suggested.