Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1992 Feb;62(2):139-47. Unique Identifier :
We have studied 61 HIV-seropositive heroin addicts (18 asymptomatic, 20
ARC, and 23 AIDS cases), 26 HIV-seronegative heroin addicts, and 45
healthy blood donors, matching the groups each other for age and sex. We
have focused on the phenotypic characteristics of B subpopulations in
the peripheral blood of HIV-seropositive and -seronegative drug abusers,
paying particular attention to the consistence of the CD20+ B cell
subset, which poorly expresses the CD21 membrane receptor for the C3d
and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (referred to as CD20 + CD21- subset). In
healthy blood donors, the ratio CD20 + CD21-/CD20+ x 100 is extremely
low (mean +/- SEM = 8.1 +/- 0.9) and rarely exceeds the value of 20. On
the contrary, in HIV seropositives, the values are much more dispersed,
with higher mean values (mean +/- SEM = 25.8 +/- 1.8) ranging from 50 to
60. An intermediate situation characterizes the class of
HIV-seronegative heroin addicts, whose values are slightly higher and
more dispersed than that of normal controls (mean +/- SEM = 11.6 +/-
1.3). The extent of the amplification of the CD20 + CD21- subset in
HIV-seropositive individuals does not apparently correlate with the
progression of the disease and represents an early event in the clinical
course of HIV infection. For each subject of the study group, the number
of CD20 + CD21- B lymphocytes is not correlated to other early markers
of HIV infection, as the T4 lymphocyte number, or total Ig levels in
sera. A functional characterization of the CD20 + CD21- B cell subset
indicates that, in HIV-seropositive patients, these cells are unable to
produce specific and nonspecific immunoglobulins (Ig's), either
spontaneously or after pokeweed mitogen stimulation. Furthermore, this
cell subset is characterized by poor expression of surface Ig's. The
data reported suggest that this cell subset can be regarded as situated
at an early level of B cell lineage differentiation.
Adolescence Adult Antibody-Producing Cells/PHYSIOLOGY Antigens,
CD/ANALYSIS Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte/ANALYSIS
B-Lymphocyte Subsets/IMMUNOLOGY/*ULTRASTRUCTURE Female Human HIV
Infections/BLOOD HIV Seropositivity/*BLOOD/COMPLICATIONS/PATHOLOGY
Immunoglobulin Isotypes/BLOOD Immunoglobulins, Surface/BLOOD
Lymphocyte Transformation/DRUG EFFECTS Male Phenotype Pokeweed
Mitogens Receptors, Complement/*ANALYSIS Substance
Abuse/*BLOOD/COMPLICATIONS/PATHOLOGY Support, Non-U.S. Gov't JOURNAL
ARTICLE