Human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) or lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV) is tropic for human T cells with the helper-inducer phenotype, as defined by reactivity with monoclonal antibodies specific for the T4 molecule. Treatment of T4+ T cells with monoclonal antibodies to T4 antigen blocks HTLV-III/LAV binding, syncytia formation, and infectivity. Thus, it has been inferred that the T4 molecule itself is a virus receptor. In the present studies, the surfaces of T4+ T cells were labeled radioactively, and then the cells were exposed to virus. After the cells were lysed, HTLV-III/LAV antibodies were found to precipitate a surface protein with a molecular weight of 58,000 (58K). By blocking and absorption experiments, this 58K protein was identified as the T4 molecule. No cell-surface structures other than the T4 molecule were involved in the antibody-antigen complex formation. Two monoclonal antibodies, each reactive with a separate epitope of the T4 molecule, were tested for their binding capacities in the presence of HTLV-III/LAV. When HTLV-III/LAV was bound to T4+ T cells, the virus blocked the binding of one of the monoclonal antibodies, T4A (OKT4A), but not of the other, T4 (OKT4). When HTLV-III/LAV was internally radiolabeled and bound to T4+ T cells which were then lysed, a viral glycoprotein of 110K (gp110) coprecipitated with the T4 molecule. The binding of gp110 to the T4 molecule may thus be a major factor in HTLV-III/LAV tropism and may prove useful in developing therapeutic or preventive measures for the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
A flow cytometric immunofluorescence assay (FIFA) was developed to detect antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using live cell indirect immunofluorescence and analysis by flow cytometry. A panel of 107 sera, previously tested for anti-HIV antibody with the Abbott Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay test and Western blot (WB), was rescreened by FIFA. Antibodies were tested on HIV-infected and uninfected H9 cells in the FIFA. Although ELISA results indicated seven false positive results by comparison with the WB, 46 of 46 FIFA positive results tested WB positive and 61 of 61 FIFA negative results were WB negative. The results of FIFA showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity compared with WB. This rapid, quantitative, relatively easy assay makes FIFA an alternate confirmatory test for the presence of HIV antibodies.
In cultures of normal human lymphocytes infected with the human retrovirus HTLV-III/LAV, detectable cytoplasmic virus appears and then disappears in a proportion (1 to 10%) of cells, followed by release of virus detected by particulate reverse transcriptase activity, virus antigen assay, and infectivity titer. Virus infection is associated with loss of detectable T4 antigen on infected cells and, ultimately, complete loss of T4+ cells from the culture. Residual non-T4+ cells are not susceptible to a second infection with HTLV-III/LAV, and in cultures of separated cell populations, substantial virus replication occurred in T4+ T cells and minimally, if at all, in non-T4+ cells. We could not detect a disproportionate loss of cell surface phenotype (other than T4) in comparison of infected and noninfected cultures of lymphocytes or purified T4+ T cells when these cultures were monitored with a panel of monoclonal antibodies that detect the major mononuclear cell types (alpha-T11, alpha-T3, alpha-Mo2, alpha-B1), functional T cell subsets (alpha-T8, alpha-Leu-8, alpha-T17), or activated/proliferating cells (alpha-T10, alpha-Ia, alpha-T9, alpha-4F2, alpha-Tac). HTLV-III/LAV replication was quantitatively greatest in lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and cultured in the presence of interleukin 2 (IL 2). Once activated by PHA, virus production in nondividing (irradiated) cells was similar to that in nonirradiated cells, but was substantially reduced if radiation was performed before PHA stimulation. Omission of PHA, IL 2, or both resulted in progressively lower amounts of virus replication. However, virus replication was detected and T4+ T cell depletion occurred in all cultures, regardless of medium supplement or radiation. T4+ T cells absorb infectious virus, and the binding of HTLV-III/LAV to the surface of T4+ T cells, but not to non-T4+ cells, was directly demonstrated. Binding is equivalent in activated and nonactivated cells and at 4 degrees and 37 degrees C. Reciprocal inhibition of binding was observed with alpha-T4a monoclonal antibody and virus. Exposure of cells to alpha-T4a before and during HTLV-III/LAV inoculation inhibited subsequent virus replication. We conclude that T4+ T cells are the major target for HTLV-III/LAV replication, that this tropism is related to expression of the T4 antigen that serves as a binding site for virus, that infection is inexorable in T4+ T cells regardless of subset or activation state, and that the activation/proliferative state of the cells is not a necessary determinant of infectivity, but rather, determines the amount of replication that will ensue.
A continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patient developed eosinophilic peritonitis and was followed for 7 months. After 1 month, the peritonitis resolved, with a concomitant drop in percentage of hypodense eosinophils (Eos) recovered from peritoneal dialysate (PD) as well as a drop in fluid major basic protein levels. Blood eosinophil differential percentages were low, but the percentage of hypodense Eos in the blood tended to be relatively increased. Stool samples showed no evidence of parasitic infection, and epicutaneous skin tests were negative. Leukotriene C4 levels remained relatively constant as did white blood cell counts. Flow cytometric analysis of lymphocytes and granulocytes from PD and blood revealed high levels of CD23-positive lymphocytes.
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