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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model
Published on: October 31, 2010
Cytofluorometric analysis of anti-lymphocyte antibodies in AIDS
1Department of Pathology, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Medical School, U.K.
Anti-lymphocyte antibodies (ALA) have been detected in the plasma of 53.8% of HIV-positive patients tested (CD4/CD8 ratios: mean 0.265; range 0.01 to 0.5) using analytical continuous-flow cytofluorometry. IgG from the AIDS plasma was seen to bind to normal PBL in 53.8% of cases (14/26). In double labelling experiments CD4 + lymphocytes, CD8 + lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes were all bound by the ALA, but monocytes were not bound. Pre-adsorption of the diluted AIDS plasma onto an excess of mouse spleen cells did not remove lymphocyte binding activity. No evidence was found for preferential binding to phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes. ALA could not be detected in the plasma of normal subjects, patients with acute renal failure undergoing renal dialysis, or patients with high levels of circulating immune complexes.
Anti-lymphocyte antibodies (ALA) have been detected in the plasma of 53.8% of HIV-positive patients tested (CD4/CD8 ratios: mean 0.265; range 0.01 to 0.5) using analytical continuous-flow cytofluorometry. IgG from the AIDS plasma was seen to bind to normal PBL in 53.8% of cases (14/26). In double labelling experiments CD4 + lymphocytes, CD8 + lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes were all bound by the ALA, but monocytes were not bound. Pre-adsorption of the diluted AIDS plasma onto an excess of mouse spleen cells did not remove lymphocyte binding activity. No evidence was found for preferential binding to phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes. ALA could not be detected in the plasma of normal subjects, patients with acute renal failure undergoing renal dialysis, or patients with high levels of circulating immune complexes.

