Antibodies to reverse transcriptase in HIV infection and progression to AIDS

Serum antibodies to the reverse transcriptase (ART) of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) were sequentially determined by ELISA in a group of 41 HIV-seropositive male homosexuals and 101 matched healthy controls, over 1.5-6 years (mean follow-up 3.25 years). Mean ART levels were significantly higher in the patient group as compared to the controls (195 ± 75 vs. 75 ± 45 absorbance (A) units; P < 0.05). When analyzed in parallel with clinical evaluation and T-cell subset determinations, a "surge" in ART activ-ity was associated with a more favourable course: eleven patients whose ART profile showed an increase > 100 A units (mean Δ A 159.6 units) showed an attenuated decrease of CD4⁺ (T helper) lymphocytes with a mean time of 42.5 months to reach a CD4⁺ number of 400 cells/mm³. In contrast, 25 matched seropositive patients whose ART remained constant became CD4⁺ < 400 cells/ mm³ within a mean time of 10.8 months (P < 0.05). These results as well as individual patients' data support a surge in serum ART as a favourable prognostic indicator, and may indicate a protective role for this antibody which should be followed up and possibly utilized in the treatment or in the design of a vaccine against HIV-1.