Antilymphocyte Antibodies and Seropositivity for Retroviruses in Groups at High Risk for AIDS

Abstract
To the Editor: The majority of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and a number of persons at high risk for AIDS are seropositive for the putative AIDS agent — human T-cell leukemia virus III (HTLV-III),1 lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV),2 and AIDS-associated retrovirus (ARV).3 Antilymphocyte antibodies are present in about 90 per cent of patients with AIDS.4 , 5 We have previously shown that the AIDS-related antilymphocyte antibodies are of the IgG class, cytotoxic in the presence of complement, and preferentially directed against OKT4-positive lymphocytes.5 The AIDS viral agent is lymphotropic for the same T-cell subpopulation. In order to investigate a possible . . .