Antilactoferrin autoantibodies associated with HIV infection

Sera from 85 HIV-infected patients were tested for the presence of antilactoferrin antibodies (anti-LF Abs) by specific ELISA. Fifty-seven sera were found positive, including sera from asymptomatic (18/28, 64.3%, mean O.D.: 0.27 +/- 0.05) and symptomatic patients (39/57, 68.4%, mean O.D.: 0.82 +/- 0.15). In the control group, only one out of 26 normal donors show any reactivity (mean O.D.: 0.06 +/- 0.01). None of the tested patients had clinical evidence of vasculitis, the previous reported antilactoferrin-associated pathology and if, in both groups, a similar frequency of anti-LF Abs was found, the autoantibody level was significantly higher among the symptomatic patients (p < 0.01). However, correlation was found neither with polymorphonuclear cell counts nor with the level of circulating lactoferrin. The characterization and the clinical significance of the autoantibodies are under investigation.