Prevalence of serum antibody to the type-specific glycopeptidolipid antigens of Mycobacterium avium in human immunodeficiency virus-positive and -negative individuals

Abstract

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was constructed by using as antigens the type-specific immunodominant glycopeptidolipids of selected serotypes of Mycobacterium avium. This assay system was used to determine the prevalence of raised antibody levels to these antigens in groups of controls, human immunodeficiency (HIV)-negative and-positive homosexual men, and HIV-negative patients with active M. avium infections as a possible indicator of potential exposure and/or colonization by M. avium in these individuals. The results indicate that while antibody levels were raised in only 2.4% of control individuals, 33% of HIV-negative homosexual men and 44% of HIV-positive patients exhibited raised levels. Moreover, further examination of the HIV-positive group revealed no correlation between antiglycopeptidolipid antibody activity and helper T cell numbers. These data indicate that exposure to M. avium is prevalent among the homosexual male population, regardless of their HIV status. Moreover, the data are suggestive that the emergence of disseminated M. avium disease in HIV-positive patients may sometimes arise from earlier colonization, rather than as a newly acquired infection during terminal immunodeficiency.

Mycobacterium avium infection in HIV-1-infected subjects increases monokine secretion and is associated with enhanced viral load and diminished immune response to viral antigens

“…Of interest is the recent finding that a high proportion of young homosexual men, seronegative or seropositive for HIV, have evidence of a serologic response against Myco. avium [22]. This suggests that subjects in risk groups may be exposed early on to Myco.…”

The Mycobacterium avium complex.

“…Although the isolation of MAC from stool or respiratory tract specimens clearly may presage the development of disseminated disease, the negative predictive value (cultures that fail to grow MAC) is poor (87,198,232). Neither skin test sensitivity (PPD-B or Battey antigen) nor serological assessment of anti-MAC antibodies by enzyme immunoassay (which is not readily available) appears to be of clinical use (295,472,475,481); however, some evidence suggests that certain MAC antigens may have more diagnostic utility than others (30,348).…”

Age-dependent humoral responses of children to mycobacterial antigens

“…Previous studies have investigated the development of antibody responses to MAC antigens in both healthy and immunocompromised hosts as a measure of both exposure and response to the organism. Low levels of antibody to a variety of both general mycobacterial (2, 7) and specific MAC antigens have been detected in sera from healthy adults (4,24,38). Elevated antibody levels to MAC antigens have been found in sera from nonimmunocompromised patients with MAC pulmonary infections as well as patients with hairy cell leukemia who are also infected with DMAC (29,43,45).…”