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.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / blood
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / complications*
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / immunology
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Antibodies, Viral / analysis
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Antigens, Viral / immunology
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Capsid Proteins*
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Deltaretrovirus / immunology
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HIV Antibodies
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Herpesviridae Infections / blood
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Herpesviridae Infections / complications*
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Herpesviridae Infections / immunology
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Herpesvirus 4, Human
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Homosexuality
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Humans
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Immunoglobulin G / analysis
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Leukocyte Count
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Retroviridae Infections / blood
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Retroviridae Infections / complications*
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Retroviridae Infections / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer*
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T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory*
Substances
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Antibodies, Viral
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Antigens, Viral
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Capsid Proteins
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Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen
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Epstein-Barr virus early antigen
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HIV Antibodies
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Immunoglobulin G