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Specificity of lymphocytotoxic antibodies in AIDS and pre-AIDS patients
The number of T helper and T suppressor cells (determined with monoclonal antibodies) and the presence of serum lymphocytotoxic antibodies with T helper and T suppressor specificities were determined in 3 AIDS and 10 pre-AIDS patients and in 6 healthy homosexual and 17 healthy heterosexual controls. The 13 patients were 8 homosexuals and 5 drug addicts. Lymphocytotoxic antibodies were detected in all of the symptomatic individuals (AIDS and pre-AIDS) but in only 1 (6%) of the healthy heterosexual controls. Lymphocytotoxic antibodies in the patients ranged in titer from 125 to 625. The antibodies were detected at 15, 20, and 37 degrees C, but the reactivity at 37 degrees C was 20 to 40% lower than at 15 degrees C. All of the patients' antibodies reacted with both T helper and T suppressor cells, but in 9 sera the reaction was higher with the T helper and T (p less than 0.05). No correlation could be found between the patients' level of T helper lymphocytes or T helper/T suppressor cell ratios and their levels of lymphocytotoxic antibodies (p greater than 0.1). Sera of 7 patients and 3 of 9 healthy heterosexual controls reacted with non-T mononuclear cells (B cells plus monocytes). The degree of cytotoxicity with these cells did not correlate with the levels of lymphocytotoxic antibodies to T cells.
The number of T helper and T suppressor cells (determined with monoclonal antibodies) and the presence of serum lymphocytotoxic antibodies with T helper and T suppressor specificities were determined in 3 AIDS and 10 pre-AIDS patients and in 6 healthy homosexual and 17 healthy heterosexual controls. The 13 patients were 8 homosexuals and 5 drug addicts. Lymphocytotoxic antibodies were detected in all of the symptomatic individuals (AIDS and pre-AIDS) but in only 1 (6%) of the healthy heterosexual controls. Lymphocytotoxic antibodies in the patients ranged in titer from 125 to 625. The antibodies were detected at 15, 20, and 37 degrees C, but the reactivity at 37 degrees C was 20 to 40% lower than at 15 degrees C. All of the patients' antibodies reacted with both T helper and T suppressor cells, but in 9 sera the reaction was higher with the T helper and T (p less than 0.05). No correlation could be found between the patients' level of T helper lymphocytes or T helper/T suppressor cell ratios and their levels of lymphocytotoxic antibodies (p greater than 0.1). Sera of 7 patients and 3 of 9 healthy heterosexual controls reacted with non-T mononuclear cells (B cells plus monocytes). The degree of cytotoxicity with these cells did not correlate with the levels of lymphocytotoxic antibodies to T cells.