Association of viral load in plasma samples of HIV-infected hemophilia patients with autoantibodies and gp120-containing immune complexes on CD4+ lymphocytes

Objective: We investigated whether the induction of antilymphocyte autoantibodies and immune complexes is associated with the activity of HIV replication. Methods: Viral HIV-1 RNA was measured in the plasma samples of 84 HIV+ hemophilia patients and correlated with the IgM, IgG, IgM/IgG and IgM/IgG/gp120 load of circulating CD4(+) lymphocytes, CD4(+) and CD8(+) cell counts, plasma neopterin levels and in vitro T-cell responses to mitogens and pooled allogeneic stimulator cells. Results: Compared to patients with no immune complexes, on circulating CD4(+) lymphocytes, viral load was increased in patients with IgM, IgM/IgG or IgM/IgG/gp120 complexes. Sequential analysis of HIV+ patients showed that peaks of retroviral activity were associated with the subsequent formation of CD4(+) lymphocyte-reactive IgM and IgG autoantibodies and gp120-containing immune complexes. Conclusion: The induction of autoantibodies and immune complexes attached to CD4(+) lymphocytes is associated with periods of increased viral activity in HIV-infected patients. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.