g(m3)-ganglioside and Acquired-Immunodeficiency-Syndrome

In this study we analysed the relationship between anti-lymphocytic ganglioside antibodies and anti-lymphocyte antibodies in AIDS patients. Anti-lymphocytic ganglioside antibodies were detected by thin layer chromatography (TLC) immunostaining; three colour flow cytometry was used to analyse circulating antibodies against different lymphocyte subsets. Anti-lymphocytic ganglioside antibodies were detected in 23 out of 49 AIDS patients sera (46.9%). All positive sera reacted selectively with the GM3 comigrating band from AIDS lymphocytes. Twenty two out of the 23 anti-lymphocytic GM3 positive sera also had antibodies against CD4+T cells, versus 17/26 anti-GM3 negative. Furthermore, patients with lymphocytic GM3 antibodies showed a significantly higher antibody reactivity against CD4+ T cells than patients in which these antibodies were not detected. The absorption tests revealed that preincubation of positive sera with GM3 was followed by a decrease in the reaction with target lymphocytes. These findings suggest that anti-GM3 antibodies are a portion, but not the majority, of antibodies reacting with CD4+ T cells.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antilymphocyte Serum; Autoantibodies; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Female; Flow Cytometry; G(M3) Ganglioside; Humans; Male

IgG antibodies reacting with the GM3-comigrating band extracted from pooled AIDS lymphocytes were detected in 33.3% of AIDS patients sera, in 8% of asymptomatic anti-HIV-positive subjects, in none of the sera obtained from asymptomatic anti-HIV-negative drug abusers, from patients with acute B and chronic C hepatitis, and from healthy donors. All positive sera reacted selectively with the GM3-comigrating band obtained from AIDS lymphocytes but not with the corresponding band from normal lymphocytes. The lymphocytic ganglioside autoantigen was revealed as GM3. In addition, two main data were shown: (a) AIDS lymphocytes have an increased concentration of GM3 and (b) the ceramide of AIDS lymphocytic GM3 has a different percentual composition of fatty acids in contrast to control cells. It is suggested that these quantitative and qualitative changes might be responsible for the appearance of circulating anti-lymphocytic GM3 antibodies.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Antilymphocyte Serum; Carbohydrates; Ceramides; Chromatography, Gas; Fatty Acids; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; G(M3) Ganglioside; Gangliosides; Humans; Lymphocytes; Male