Studies of Cellular Immunity in Male Homosexuals in London

Demonstration of defective C3-receptor-mediated clearance by the reticuloendothelial system in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

“…This is not surprising, since the lifestyle of many homosexual men leads to multiple exposures to infectious agents with consequent prolonged antigenic stimulation. Other reported immune abnormalities in healthy homosexual men include reversal of the OKT4'/OKT8' ratio due to an increase in OKT8' cells (33)(34)(35), decreased proliferative response to mitogens (35), cutaneous anergy (17), elevated immunoglobulins (36,37), and presence of circulating immune complexes (37).…”

“…Microscopic examination of peripheral white blood cells has revealed decreased percent representation and absolute numbers of peripheral blood monocytes (15,16), the presence of large atypical peripheral blood monocytes with a fine nuclear chromatin, and one or more cytoplasmic vacuoles (16). Decreased chemotaxis with defective migratory function has been described (15,17). The monocytes have decreased ability to secrete interleukin-1 in response to appropriate stimulants (18), although they can respond to gamma interferon (38).…”

“…The monocytes have decreased ability to secrete interleukin-1 in response to appropriate stimulants (18), although they can respond to gamma interferon (38). Impaired monocyte phagocytosis and killing of some but not all pathogens has been reported (17,18,31). Finally, there is defective monocyte help in in vitro proliferative response of lymphocytes ( 19).…”

“…have demonstrated decreased numbers of monocytes and macrophages (13)(14)(15)(16), the presence of atypical peripheral blood monocytes (16), impaired chemotaxis (15,17), defective phagocytosis (17), abnormal secretion of interleukin-l (18), and impaired monocyte help for the in vitro proliferative response of lymphocytes (19). We have also demonstrated in vivo that Fc-receptor-specific function of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) in patients with AIDS is abnormal, as shown by defective clearance from the circulation of IgG-sensitized autologous erythrocytes (20).…”

“…Moreover, macrophages cultured from the brain or lung of patients with AIDS were found to harbor HIV (12). In addition, it has been well documented that there is monocyte-macrophage dysfunction in AIDS (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21).…”