Association of htlv-iii with epstein-barr virus infection and abnormalities of t lymphocytes in homosexual men

Charles R. Rinaldo, Lawrence A. Kingsley, David W. Lyter, Bruce S. Rabin, Robert W. Atchison, Anne J. Bodner, Stanley H. Weiss, W. Carl Saxinger, Charles R. Rinaldo, Lawrence A. Kingsley, David W. Lyter, Bruce S. Rabin, Robert W. Atchison, Anne J. Bodner, Stanley H. Weiss, W. Carl Saxinger, Charles R. Rinaldo, Lawrence A. Kingsley, David W. Lyter, Bruce S. RabinRobert W. Atchison, Anne J. Bodner, Stanley H. Weiss, W. Carl Saxinger, Charles R. Rinaldo, Lawrence A. Kingsley, David W. Lyter, Bruce S. Rabin, Robert W. Atchison, Anne J. Bodner, Stanley H. Weiss, W. Carl Saxinger, Charles R. Rinaldo, Lawrence A. Kingsley, David W. Lyter, Bruce S. Rabin, Robert W. Atchison, Anne J. Bodner, Stanley H. Weiss, W. Carl Saxinger

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28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Homosexual men were studied for associations among human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) infection, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, and T cell abnormalities. The presence of IgG antibody to EBV capsid antigen and antibody to EBV early antigen was significantly associated with augmented counts of suppressor T cells in healthy HTLV- III-seronegative men. HTLV-III-seropositive asymptomatic subjects had significantly enhanced titers of antibody to EBV and lower ratios of helper to suppressor T cells compared with HTLV-III-seronegative homosexual men. Of three men who seroconverted to HTLV-III, two had a greater than fourfold increase in titer of IgG antibody to EBV capsid antigen after seroconversion. These results suggest that the interaction of HTLV- III and EBV and their immunologic perturbations are significant in the natural history of this retrovirus infection in homosexual men.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)556-561
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume154
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1986
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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