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G Opelz

Publications and source records attributed to G Opelz.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

A randomized and prospective study comparing treatment with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin with monoclonal antibodies for rescue of kidney grafts with steroid-resistant rejection.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) versus monoclonal anti-CD3 as a treatment for steroid-resistant rejections. From January 1995 to June 1997, 30 patients were analyzed. They were randomized into two groups. Resistant rejections were diagnosed by core biopsy. Group A received 500 mg/ kg/day IVIg (Sandoglobulin) for 7 consecutive days, whereas group B received 5 mg/day of OKT3 for 14 consecutive days. Daily T cell CD3+ peripheral count was performed for 14 days for group B. The immunosuppression was similar for both groups. Cyclosporine was stopped during both treatments. METHODS: Demographic factors, HLA mismatch, creatinine levels before and after treatment, and the incidence of rejections after treatment (up to 1 month) were taken into account for this study. RESULTS: Data from different samples were compared using Fisher's exact test. Graft and patient survival were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The were no significant differences found in age, graft origin, HLA mismatch, or time of follow-up until the episode of rejection. Success was achieved for 11 (73.3%) of 15 of group A and 13 (86.6%) of 15 of group B (P=0.79). Creatinine levels before and after treatment were as follows: A, 2.99+/-1.30 mg/dl and 2.1+/-0.70 mg/dl versus B, 3.1+/-1.1 mg/dl and 2.5+/-0.8 mg/dl. Besides, we did not observe differences in the creatinine 1 month after treatment (A: 2.35+/-0.78 mg/dl; B: 2.51+/-1.10 mg/dl; P=0.66) nor in the third month (A: 1.83+/-0.58 mg/dl; B: 2.30+/-0.89 mg/dl; P=0.24). The incidence of rejections after treatment was 5 (46%) of 11 for group A and 9 (75%) of 12 for group B (P=0.4). The patient survival rates 2 years after treatment were 87 and 92% for A and B groups, respectively. Graft survival was identical (80% in both groups). CONCLUSION: Should the favorable result presented in this report be confirmed in larger number of patients, IVIg could become the preferable choice of rejection treatment for steroid-resistant rejection because of a complete absence of the unwanted side effects commonly associated with OKT3.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The T-cell suppressive effect of bufadienolides: structural requirements for their immunoregulatory activity.

Many studies indicate that substances similar to cardenolides and bufadienolides naturally occur in mammals. The majority of previous studies focused on their cardiovascular, renal, and central nervous action. We analyzed the immunoregulatory property of 52 bufadienolides. Human T-cells were stimulated "in vitro" with mitogens or alloantigens in the presence of bufadienolides. The most active compound totally inhibited T-cell activity at a concentration of 0.75 pmol/10(5) cells. This effect is 16,384 x stronger than that of cortisol and 256 x stronger than that of cyclosporin A or tacrolimus. Preactivated T cells were downregulated and, most importantly, suppressed viable T cells could not be restimulated. Lack of the 17 beta-lactone ring dramatically reduced the activity of bufadienolides. Substitution at C3 also affected their function: components with a 3-OH group were up to 1000 x stronger than those without. The replacement of 14 beta-OH with an epoxy-group slightly decreased the activity. Because there is evidence that the latter change abolishes the cardiac activity, this finding is relevant for therapeutic applications in which immunosuppression without the risk of cardiotoxicity is attempted. One of the substances analyzed in this study was Proscillaridin A. A similar bufadienolide occurs naturally in mammals. We speculate that bufadienolides represent an important bioregulatory link between the cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Induction of apoptosis in human lymphocytes by the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.

Dimethylammonium salt of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (DMA-2,4-D) is a widely used herbicide that is considered moderately toxic. In the present study we found that DMA-2,4-D is able to cause apoptosis in peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy individuals and Jurkat T cells. Apoptosis induced by DMA-2,4-D was dose and time dependent, independent of Fas, TNF receptor 1 or the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor, and involved disruption of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and activation of caspase-9. ZVAD-FMK, a broad-spectrum inhibitor of caspases, blocked DMA-2,4-D-induced apoptosis completely. While an inhibitor of caspase-9, as well as caspase-9 and caspase-3 inhibitors in combination, strongly blocked DMA-2,4-D-induced apoptosis, an inhibitor of caspase-3 had a moderate inhibitory effect. Unlike Fas-mediated apoptosis, the initiator caspase, caspase-8, was not involved in DMA-2,4-D-induced apoptosis. Transfection of Jurkat cells with Bcl-2 prevented DMA-2,4-D-induced disruption of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and led to a complete blockage of apoptosis. Our data indicate that DMA-2,4-D kills human lymphocytes by initiating apoptosis via a direct effect on mitochondria. The activation of caspases occurs downstream of mitochondrial damage, and the dysfunction of mitochondria appears to be sufficient for triggering all downstream events leading to apoptosis.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗
PubMed2001

Human leukocyte antigen class II allele frequencies and haplotype association in Iranian normal population.

The polymorphism of the HLA class II genes DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 was investigated in 100 unrelated Iranian individuals from Fars province in Southern Iran, using the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Subtyping of DRB1*04, *15, and *16 alleles was performed using PCR amplification with sequence specific primes (PCR-SSP). The allele and the haplotype frequencies were calculated. The most common DRB1 alleles were DRB1*11, DRB1*15, and DRB1*04 with a frequency of 25.0%, 14.5%, and 10.5%, respectively. In contrast, the allelic frequency of DRB1*12 and DRB1*08 was very low (1.5% for each). In the DR15 group DRB1*1501 was the most prevalent variant (6.0%). Concerning DR4, the most common alleles were DRB1*0405 and DRB1*0402 (3.5% for each). Interestingly, DRB1*0402 was associated with DQB1*0302 and DRB1*0405 was associated with DQB1*0302 and DQB1*02, the latter being a rare DRB1/DQB1 haplotype in Caucasian individuals. The most frequent DQB1 alleles were DQB1*0301 (31.0%), and DQB1*05 (22.0%). The most frequent DQA1 variants were DQA1*0501 (39.0%) and DQA1*0102 (14.5%). The most common haplotype was DRB1*11-DQB1*0301-DQA1*0501 (25.0%) followed by DRB1*0301-DQB1*02-DQA1*0501 (10%) and DRB1*0701- DQB1*02-DQA1*0201 (6.5%). Data presented in this study suggest that the Iranian population shares some HLA components with populations resident in eastern and southern European countries.

Alleles↗
PubMed2001

Associations of blood levels of PCB, HCHS, and HCB with numbers of lymphocyte subpopulations, in vitro lymphocyte response, plasma cytokine levels, and immunoglobulin autoantibodies.

Pentachlorophenol (PCP), hexachlorocyclohexane-[alpha], -beta, and -[gamma] (HCH-[alpha], -beta, and -[gamma]), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) are widely distributed industrial chemicals. They are suspected to induce immunologic impairments in exposed individuals. We examined dose-response relationships of blood levels of these chemicals with cellular (numbers of lymphocyte subpopulations, in vitro lymphocyte response) or humoral (plasma cytokine levels, immunoglobulin autoantibodies) immunologic dysfunctions. We studied 146 patients who had been occupationally exposed primarily to PCBs for more than 6 months. Lymphocyte subpopulations, in vitro responses to mitogens and allogeneic stimulator cells, plasma neopterin, cytokines, soluble cytokine receptors, soluble adhesion molecules, anti-Ig autoantibodies, and liver transaminases were determined. Blood levels of the different compounds were strongly correlated with one another. There were only weak dose-response relationships between blood levels of PCBs with cellular immune parameters, and of HCHs and HCB with humoral immune parameters. An exception was the statistically significant negative association of HCB with interferon-[gamma] (IFN-[gamma]), indicating that HCB has a significant impact on Th1 lymphocytes. Patients with HCB blood levels above the mean of 1,109 ng/L more often had undetectable IFN-[gamma] blood levels than patients below the mean. Patients with increased PCB 138 (> 710 ng/L) had more frequently undetectable interleukin-4 blood levels than patients with PCB 138 below the mean, and patients with increased PCB 101 (> 31 ng/L) more often had low DR+ cell counts in the blood (< 190/microL) than patients with PCB 101 below the mean. To assess possible cumulative effects, we compared patients who had blood levels of all compounds below background with patients who had blood levels of all compounds above background. Patients with low or absent blood levels of the compounds studied had higher IFN-[gamma] plasma levels, providing some evidence for a cumulative effect of several weakly active compounds. In conclusion, exposure to PCBs, HCB, or HCHs is associated with weak immunologic abnormalities. These results contrast with those obtained in earlier studies of blood levels of PCP, which showed a strong dose-dependent relationship with immunologic impairments. Our data suggest that long-term exposure of patients to HCB suppresses IFN-[gamma] production.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

One-step single-chain Fv recombinant antibody-based purification of gp96 for vaccine development.

Heat shock proteins such as gp96 (grp94) isolated from tumor or infected cells are able to induce specific cytotoxic T-cell responses and protective immunity. To facilitate rapid and efficient isolation, we generated gp96-specific recombinant single-chain Fv (scFv) antibodies from a semisynthetic phage display library. When immobilized on Sepharose beads, these antibodies allow a high-yield, one-step purification of native gp96 molecules from both mouse and human tumor cell lysates. gp96 molecules eluted from these affinity columns under mild conditions are still capable of generating antigen-specific CTL responses in mice. Thus, scFv-purified gp96 is still associated with peptides; however, in contrast to conventionally purified gp96, scFv-isolated gp96 is free of contaminating material such as mitogenic concanavalin A and proteolytic cathepsins. With the help of these high-yield antibody columns, it is now possible to rapidly isolate immunogenic gp96-peptide complexes from small amounts of tumor material to a purity that allows their use in cancer immunotherapy protocols.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Microchimerism in bone marrow-derived CD34(+) cells of patients after liver transplantation.

Lymphoid and dendritic cells of donor origin can be detected in the recipient several years after a solid organ transplantation. This phenomenon is termed microchimerism and could play a role in the induction of tolerance. The fate of other hematopoietic cells transferred by liver transplantation, in particular of stem and progenitor cells, is unknown. For this reason, we studied peripheral blood and bone marrow samples of 12 patients who had received a liver transplant from an HLA-DR mismatched donor. Eight patients were long-term survivors between 2.8 and 10.1 years after allografting. CD34(+) cells from bone marrow were highly enriched with the use of a 2-step method, and a nested polymerase chain reaction was applied to detect donor cells on the basis of allelic differences of the HLA-DRB1 gene. Rigorous controls with DRB1 specificities equal to the donor and host were included. In 5 of 8 long-term liver recipients, donor-specific CD34(+) cells could be detected in bone marrow. Microchimerism in the CD34(+) cell fraction did not correlate to the chimeric status in peripheral blood. In conclusion, our results demonstrate a frequent microchimerism among bone marrow-derived CD34(+) cells after liver transplantation. The functional role of this phenomenon still needs to be defined. (Blood. 2000;96:763-767)

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Graft-protective role of high pretransplantation IgA-anti-Fab autoantibodies: confirmatory evidence obtained in more than 4000 kidney transplants. The Collaborative Transplant Study.

BACKGROUND: Preliminary studies showed an excellent success rate of kidney grafts in patients with high pretransplantation serum levels of IgA autoantibodies directed against the Fab region of the human IgG molecule. METHODS: With the collaboration of 30 centers from around the world, we attempted to verify the role of IgA-anti-Fab autoantibodies in kidney transplantation in an entirely new series of 4316 cadaveric kidney transplants, with special consideration of presensitized and poorly HLA-matched recipients. RESULTS: In agreement with previously published preliminary findings, 147 recipients with a high pretransplantation IgA-anti-Fab of >1000 had a 2-year kidney graft survival rate of 88+/-3% (+/- SE), compared with an 80+/-1% rate in 851 recipients with a low IgA-anti-Fab of <60 (P = 0.02). Even in patients at an increased risk of graft rejection, high pretransplantation IgA-anti-Fab autoantibody activity was associated with superior graft survival. Among 815 presensitized patients, 31 had a high pretransplantation IgA-anti-Fab activity of >1000 and their 2-year graft survival rate was 94+/-4%, in contrast to a 71+/-4% rate in 165 presensitized recipients with a low IgA-anti-Fab of <60 (P = 0.02). Of 2294 recipients who received a kidney with > or =3 HLA-A+B+DR mismatches, 79 recipients had a high pretransplantation IgA-anti-Fab of >1000 and a 2-year graft survival rate of 90+/-4%, as compared with a 79+/-2% rate in 459 patients with a low IgA-anti-Fab of <60 (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirms that kidney graft recipients with high pretransplantation IgA-anti-Fab activity have excellent graft survival, and it extends this observation to presensitized recipients and poor HLA matches.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A large, single center investigation of the immunogenetic factors affecting liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Reports on the relevance of immunogenetic factors in liver transplantation are often conflicting or inconclusive. We have, therefore, investigated a range of factors that may underlie liver graft survival. METHODS: The influences of HLA, flow cytometric, and enhanced cytotoxic crossmatching and immunoglobulin (Ig)A levels on graft survival, and acute and chronic rejection were investigated for a single center involving 446 patients over 13 years. RESULTS: The effect of HLA mismatching on graft survival was significant (P<10(-2)) and was reversed in recipients with autoimmune diseases (P<0.5x10(-2)), whereas the effect of HLA mismatches on the level of acute rejection was detrimental in all recipients. There was a significant effect of a positive cytotoxic crossmatch on 3-month (P<10(-5)) and 1-year (P<10(-4)) graft survival, and an additional effect of the flow cytometric crossmatch was seen for chronic rejection (P<10(-2)) and acute rejection (P<10(-2)). Recipients with HLA-A1,B8,DRB1*0301 had higher levels of acute rejection (P<0.5x10(-2)), and recipients who received an ABO compatible-nonidentical transplant have a significantly higher risk (P<10(-2)) of developing chronic rejection. Finally, the beneficial effect of high serum IgA and, specifically, IgA anti Fab, seen in renal transplants was not evident in liver transplants, and in fact the opposite may be true, at least for acute rejection (P<0.5x10(-2)). CONCLUSIONS: By separating the recipients with autoimmune disease from other patients and by including acute and chronic rejection as outcome parameters, we have used the power of a large single-centre study to delineate the significance of some of the important immunogenetic factors involved in liver transplantation.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed2000

Critical threshold of azathioprine dosage for maintenance immunosuppression in kidney graft recipients. Collaborative Transplant Study.

BACKGROUND: There are conflicting reports in the literature concerning the efficacy of maintenance immunosuppression in renal transplantation with a regimen of azathioprine and steroids. METHODS: The daily dosage (mg/kg) of azathioprine administered 1 year after transplantation was analyzed in relation to subsequent long-term graft outcome. Transplants performed from 1985 to 1996 and reported to the Collaborative Transplant Study were analyzed. RESULTS: In patients on maintenance immunosuppression without cyclosporine, the daily dosage of azathioprine had a highly significant influence on long-term graft outcome. Patients who received > 1.5 mg/kg/ day of azathioprine had a 69% graft survival rate at 7 years, compared with a 55% rate in patients receiving 1.01-1.5 mg/kg/day (P<0.0001) and a 45% rate in patients receiving < or = 1.00 mg/kg/day (P<0.0001). This observation was valid for patients who were taken off cyclosporine during the first year as well as for patients who were treated with azathioprine and steroids (without cyclosporine) from the beginning. CONCLUSION: Maintenance immunosuppression with azathioprine and steroids results in good long-term kidney graft survival, provided azathioprine is administered at a daily dose of >1.5 mg/kg.

Azathioprine↗
PubMed2000

Switch from cyclosporine A to tacrolimus in renal transplant recipients: impact on Th1, Th2, and monokine responses.

We showed previously that pretransplant CD4 helper defects and low in-vitro IL-10 responses predict a low risk of acute kidney graft rejection. To compare the effect of tacrolimus (Tacr) and cyclosporine A (CsA) on the humoral immune response we assessed T helper function, B cell/monocyte responses and in-vitro cytokine responses (TNF-alpha, GM-CSF, IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) in 20 renal transplant recipients before and 3 months after they were switched from CsA to Tacr because of hyperlipoproteinemia, hirsutism, or gum hyperplasia. T helper function was assessed using a PWM-driven allogeneic coculture system of patient T cells together with control B cells. B cell/monocyte responses were determined using a PWM-stimulated allogeneic coculture system, SAC I-stimulated B-cell cultures and LPS-stimulated monocyte cultures. Immunoglobulin-secreting cell (ISC) responses were assessed in a reverse hemolytic plaque assay, and ELISA were used to determine cytokine secretion. Treatment with Tacr resulted in a decreased expression of costimulatory ligands and adhesion molecules (T cells: CD40L, p < 0.05; CD28 and CD54, p < or = 0.01; B cells: CD25, p = 0.05; CD40, p < 0.001; monocytes: CD40, p < 0.05), which coincided with decreased PHA-stimulated T cell IL-2 responses (398 +/- 153 versus 43 +/- 15 pg/ml, p < 0.05), impaired CD4 helper activity (117% +/- 22% versus 73% +/- 19%, p < 0.05) and increased CD4 suppressor activity (-120% +/- 28% versus -18% +/- 27%, p = 0.02). We observed enhanced CD4 IL-10 responses (p < 0.01) and LPS-stimulated monocyte responses (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-6, p < 0.005; IL-10, p < 0.05), indicating an increased humoral immune responsiveness under treatment with tacrolimus. Our data show that switching of immunosuppressive therapy from CsA to tacrolimus results in suppression of costimulatory ligands, adhesion molecules, Th1 responses and CD4 helper activity. However, enhanced humoral immune responses, Th2 and monokine responses, might have a negative impact on long-term graft function.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed2000

HLA matching in Asian recipients of kidney grafts from unrelated living or cadaveric donors. The Collaborative Transplant Study.

The success rate of kidney transplants in Asian recipients was reported in the literature to be exceptionally high. This raises the question whether HLA incompatibilities do not elicit allograft rejection in Asians. Asian recipients, 3,721, of kidney transplants from unrelated living or cadaveric donors were analyzed. The transplants were part of the Collaborative Transplant Study database. HLA typing data and clinical follow-up information were provided by the participating centers. The survival rate of cadaver kidney transplants was associated statistically significantly with the number of HLA-DR mismatches (p < 0.01) as well as with the number of HLA-A + B + DR mismatches (p < 0.01). A significant association of HLA mismatches with graft outcome was also found in a subanalysis of cadaver transplants from Asian donors into Asian recipients (p = 0.03). Among transplants from unrelated living donors, both HLA-DR mismatches and HLA-A + B + DR mismatches were associated with graft outcome (p < 0.01). The success rate of 123 grafts with 2 HLA-DR mismatches was a poor 69 +/- 4% at 3 years, suggesting that such transplants should be avoided if possible. Kidney transplants from unrelated donors into Asians benefit from improved HLA compatibility. The results, therefore, suggest that prospective HLA matching strategies for Asian patients should be pursued.

Asian People↗
PubMed2000

Fas ligand gene-carrying adeno-5 AdEasy viruses can be efficiently propagated in apoptosis-sensitive human embryonic retinoblast 911 cells.

Recent reports have pointed out the difficulties in generating recombinant adenoviral vectors expressing FasL using eukaryotic cells. In the present study we cloned the murine FasL (mFasL) gene into the pCA14 or pShuttle vectors and recombined them with the adeno-5 virus backbone pBHG10 or pAdEasy-1 in eukaryotic (911 cells) or prokaryotic (E. coli) cells, respectively. Recombination of pCA14-mFasL with pBHG10 in Fas-carrying 911 cells leads to rapid expression of mFasL and cell death by apoptosis before virus replication is initiated. The same effect is observed when 911 cells are transfected with the pCA14-mFasL shuttle vector only. If recombination (pShuttle-mFasL with pAdEasy-1) is performed first in bacteria and 911 cells are transfected thereafter with recombined AdEasy-mFasL, virus production starts immediately and the cells survive longer. The resulting AdEasy-mFasL viruses are able to infect other eukaryotic cells and induce expression of functional mFasL. This study describes a method for efficient generation of recombinant FasL adeno-5 viruses in eukaryotic cells. The method may be generally suitable for producing viruses carrying deleterious genes. Gene Therapy (2000) 7, 70-74.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1999

Inverse association between IgG-anti-kappa and antierythrocyte autoantibodies in patients with cold agglutination.

It has been known for a long time that IgG-anti-F(ab')(2) antibodies (Abs) are able to suppress the B-cell response. We showed that natural IgG-anti-F(ab')(2) autoantibodies appear in the serum of patients with cold agglutination. If the anti-F(ab')2 Ab suppresses cold agglutinin (CA)-producing B cells, one would expect an inverse correlation between the titers of these two Abs. Our study confirmed this correlation. Subsequent experiments showed that some anti-F(ab')(2) Abs bind to the hinge region of IgG. It was difficult to explain how this Ab suppresses CA-producing B cells, which are of IgM isotype. Here we show that patients with cold agglutination have an IgG-anti-kappa light chain autoantibody in their serum. This is another member of the anti-F(ab')(2) Ab group. Because the vast majority of CAs are IgM-kappa Abs, the anti-kappa Ab might suppress CA-producing B cells. If this is the case, there should be an inverse association between the titer of anti-kappa Ab and CA. In a group of 302 patients, we found that high titers of the anti-kappa Ab correlate with low titers of CA and vice versa (P =.009). Interestingly, this association is found only in patients whose disease is caused by noninfectious agents, including mainly B-cell proliferations (P =.0058). Our data show that the inverse correlation is not confined to a particular CA autoantibody specificity. The results are discussed in the light of recent findings showing that anti-IgM Abs may either inactivate or kill tumoral B cells by apoptosis.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of HLA matching for CREG antigens in Europe.

BACKGROUND: In North America, cross-reactive antigen group (CREG) matching was introduced recently for cadaver kidney allocation. This is expected to result in improved graft outcome and an increased number of transplants for patients with rare HLA antigens. METHODS: We analyzed the impact of CREG matching using the data of the Collaborative Transplant Study for 59,516 first cadaver transplants performed in Western Europe. The 10 HLA class I CREGs described by Takemoto et al. were used for a comparison with the conventional HLA-A+B mismatching scheme. RESULTS: Transplant outcome depends primarily on the number of HLA-A+B mismatches and not on the CREG match grades. In a retrospective analysis, CREG mismatches correlated with the number of HLA-A+B mismatches. However, in computer simulations, we found that prospective CREG matching is not associated with beneficial HLA-A+B matching. CONCLUSION: The positive CREG matching effect observed in retrospective analyses is caused by the underlying effects of conventional HLA-A+B matching. CREG-oriented cadaver kidney allocation in Europe would, therefore, be inferior to the current conventional HLA-A+B+DR allocation.

Cadaver↗
PubMed1999

Reduction of viral load and immune complex load on CD4+ lymphocytes as a consequence of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) in HIV-infected hemophilia patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-induced immune complex load on circulating CD4+ blood lymphocytes is associated with dysfunction and depletion of CD4+ lymphocytes and with increased monocyte/macrophage function. It was investigated whether HAART reduces both the viral load in plasma and the number of immune complex-coated CD4+ lymphocytes in the blood, and whether CD4+ counts are associated with viral load and/or immune complex load. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve HIV+ hemophilia patients before and after conversion to HAART (group 1); eight HIV+ hemophilia patients without antiretroviral therapy (group 2). HIV-1 RNA copies in plasma using NASBA/Nuclisens kits; CD4+ lymphocytes coated in-vivo with immune complexes using flowcytometry on whole blood samples; in-vitro responses of immune complex-coated T lymphocytes in cell culture assays. RESULTS: After conversion to HAART there was a significant reduction of viral load, CD4+ gp120+, CD4+ IgM+, and CD4+ IgG+ circulating blood lymphocytes and plasma neopterin, paralleled by a significant increase of CD4+ and CD8+ counts. The percentage of immune complex-coated CD4+ lymphocytes of converted patients was significantly associated with CD4+ counts, in-vitro responses to concanavalin A (Con A), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), anti-CD3 and pooled allogeneic stimulator cells, and with plasma neopterin levels. CONCLUSION: HAART reduces viral load and HIV-induced immune complex load on circulating CD4+ blood lymphocytes. The results of this study can be interpreted to suggest that HAART increases CD4+ lymphocyte counts in part by counteracting HIV-induced autoimmune phenomena.

Anti-HIV Agents↗