Mechanisms of HIV-associated immunosuppression

HIV antigens were identified in PBL obtained from HIV-positive patients, using IF and IEM. Studies of the phenotype of HIV-containing lymphocytes showed that OKT4+ cells were the principal target of the virus. Approximately 5% of infected cells were multinucleated. Almost all infected and about 30% of uninfected PBL displayed Ab-C3 complexes on the cell surfaces. Sera from HIV-positive patients contained Ab reacting with cell membranes and intracellular structures of PBL from normal subjects, as demonstrated by IEM. The presence of Ig-C3 complexes on a high percentage of HIV-positive- or negative-PBL suggests that the Ab-C-mediated lympholysis may represent a major mechanism of lymphatic tissue destruction in HIV-infected patients.