Autoantibodies in male homosexuals and HIV infection

We have used ELISA to study the frequency of autoantibodies to several antigens in the serum of 17 male homosexuals (MHS) negative for HIV (HIV^-), 11 asymptomatic HIV seropositive MHS (HIV⁺) and patients with ARC (N = 15) or AIDS (N = 13), and compared them to 20 matched healthy heterosexual controls. Serum antibody binding to histones, cardiolipin, ss-A, ss-B and Sm was found to be significantly higher in each of the MHS groups studied as compared to controls (P<0.001), and was also increased in the HIV⁺ patients vs. the HIV^- group (P<0.05). In contrast, no increase in autoantibodies to ss-DNA, ds-DNA, poly(I), poly(G) or RNP were found in any of the groups tested. These results enlarge the spectrum of autoimmunity previously reported in HIV infection and identify a similar pattern to a lesser degree, already present in HIV^- MHS, suggesting a role for HIV or concomitant virus infections in its pathogenesis.