SPECIFICITY OF LYMPHOCYTOTOXIC ANTIBODIES IN AIDS AND PRE-AIDS PATIENTS

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Abstract
The number of T helper and T suppressor cells (determined with monoclonal antibodies) and the presence of serum lymphocytotoxic antibodies with T helper and T suppressor specificities were determined in 3 AIDS and 10 pre-AIDS patients and in 6 healthy homosexual and 17 healthy heterosexual controls. The 13 patients were 8 homosexuals and 5 drug addicts. Lymphocytotoxic antibodies were detected in all of the symptomatic individuals (AIDS and pre-AIDS) but in only 1 (6%) of the healthy heterosexual controls. Lymphocytotoxic antibodies in the patients ranged in titer from 125 to 625. The antibodies were detected at 15, 20, and 37°C, but the reactivity at 37°C was 20 to 40% lower than at 15°C. All of the patients' antibodies reacted with both T helper and T suppressor cells, but in 9 sera the reaction was higher with the T helper cells (p0.1). Sera of 7 patients and 3 of 9 healthy heterosexual controls reacted with non-T mononuclear cells (B cells plus monocytes). The degree of cytotoxicity with these cells did not correlate with the levels of lymphocytotoxic antibodies to T cells.