Lack of relationship between human immunodeficiency virus infection and systemic lupus erythematosus

Targeting human immunodeficiency virus type 1 with antibodies derived from patients with connective tissue disease

During the budding process, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquires several cellular proteins from the host. Thus, antibodies against self antigens found in sera patients with autoimmune disorders may cross react with host-derived or the HIV-specific proteins gp120 and gp41 on the viral envelope and probably neutralize HIV infection. To verify this hypothesis, 88 sera from HIV negative patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune disorders were analysed for cross reacting antibodies against HIV-1 by Western blot and FACS analysis indicating that antibodies cross-react with epitopes expressed on HIV infected or non-infected cells. Virus capture assays revealed that HIV-1IIIBwas directly recognized by 60% of sera from patients with autoimmune disorders. Sera were also tested in HIV neutralization assays with stimulated T cells. Reduction of the viral load by patient sera correlated with their reactivity in Western blot analysis. Complement further enhanced the reduction of viral titres, although no complement-mediated lysis was observed. These data suggest a possible protective role of auto-antibodies against HIV infection in lupus patients.

Seronegative myasthenia gravis and human immunodeficiency virus infection: response to intravenous gamma globulin and prednisone

BACKGROUND

There are only rare reports of myasthenia gravis complicating human immunodeficiency virus infection. The role of immunomodulatory therapy is unknown.

METHODS

Case report and literature review.

RESULTS

The diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection followed that of myasthenia gravis in a 35-year-old man. Clinical and electrophysiological features were diagnostic of generalized myasthenia gravis but two edrophonium chloride tests and acetylcholine receptor antibodies were negative. Prednisone therapy and intravenous gamma globulin were associated with rapid clinical recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Prednisone therapy and intravenous gamma globulin may be helpful in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis complicating HIV infection.

Antibodies reactive with HIV-1 antigens in systemic lupus erythematosus

Antibodies reactive with retroviral gag proteins have been detected in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We investigated the immune responses against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 antigens in the sera of 44 Turkish patients with SLE. Serum samples were tested by using two different commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kits and by Western blotting. EIA studies revealed positive results in 12 patients (27%) for HIV-1 antigens by one of the kits that coated with purified viral antigens. Immunoblot analysis showed antibodies mainly to retroviral gag proteins in 23 patients (52%). The most frequent reactivity was against the p18 gag protein (n = 9). Although antibodies reactive particularly with p24 antigen were described in the previous reports, antibodies to p24 were found in only two patients. These findings might reflect a serologic diversity in different ethnic groups and also suggest the involvement of different triggers in the etiopathogenesis of SLE.