Anti-lymphocyte antibodies in plasma of HIV-1-infected patients preferentially react with MHC class II-negative T cells and are linked to antibodies against gp41.

It has previously been shown that HIV-infected patients develop anti-lymphocyte antibodies. The relationship between anti-lymphocyte antibodies and antibodies against different viral antigens is unknown, and it remains controversial whether some lymphocyte subpopulations are targeted preferentially. We have set out using three-colour flow cytometry to measure antibodies against different lymphocyte subsets. Staining with anti-human immunoglobulin and two MoAbs was performed to characterize the immunoglobulin load of different lymphocyte subsets. Comparison was done between patients' antibody reactivity against HIV-1 antigens and anti-lymphocyte antibodies. We were able to demonstrate the presence of anti-lymphocyte antibodies in approximately 75% of the HIV-infected patients (n = 78) (healthy controls were all negative). MHC class II-negative T cells showed a stronger reaction with anti-lymphocyte antibodies than B cells or MHC class II-positive T cells. Patients with antibodies against CD4 lymphocytes showed a significantly higher antibody reaction with the retroviral antigen gp41 than patients without these antibodies. An association between anti-lymphocyte antibodies and antibody reactivity against other HIV-1 antigens was not noticed. In conclusion, anti-lymphocyte antibodies in HIV-1-infected patients show a preferential reactivity with T cells which lack expression of MHC class II molecules. There is an increased antibody reactivity against gp41 in patients with anti-CD4+ T cell antibodies. The association hints at a specific origin of anti-lymphocyte antibodies in HIV-1-infected patients due to cross-reactivity with viral epitopes or network phenomena. These anti-CD4 cell antibodies could be of interest in the clinical course of HIV infection.