Priming of CD4+ T cells specific for conserved regions of human immunodeficiency virus glycoprotein gp120 in humans immunized with a recombinant envelope protein.

A nonglycosylated denatured form of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 glycoprotein gp120 (Env 2-3), which does not bind to CD4, was used with muramyl tripeptide as adjuvant to immunize HIV-seronegative healthy volunteers. In all the volunteers, three 50-micrograms injections of Env 2-3 induced priming of CD4+ T cells specific for conserved regions of the native glycosylated gp120. Moreover, we found that several major histocompatibility complex class II (DR) alleles can function as restriction molecules for presentation of conserved epitopes of gp120 to T cells, implying that a T-cell response to these epitopes can be obtained in a large fraction of the population.

Purified blood monocytes from HIV 1-infected patients produce high levels of TNF alpha and IL-1.

The production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) was measured in supernatants of cultured peripheral blood monocytes that were obtained from patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV 1) infection and that were purified by counterflow centrifugal elutriation (86-92% purity). TNF alpha levels were significantly higher in monocytes isolated from symptomatic HIV 1-infected patients as compared to normal controls. Although IL-1 levels were also elevated in this group of symptomatic patients they did not reach statistical significance.

[Antinuclear antibodies: the classical and the new].

A brief overview is presented of the different antinuclear autoantibodies most frequently mentioned in the literature at the present time. The relationship between these autoantibodies and collagen diseases is described in terms of their usefulness in diagnosis and follow-up. Lupus anticoagulant is also mentioned in view of its possible relationship with anti-DNA autoantibodies.

Immunotactoid glomerulopathy with leucocytoclastic skin vasculitis and hypocomplementemia: a case report.

Immunotactoid glomerulopathy is a recently described entity characterized clinically by proteinuria, hematuria and hypertension, and on renal biopsy by various glomerular lesions including extracellular microtubules composed of immune reactants. Furthermore a defined immunological disease or cryoglobulinemia are absent. We report the case of a patient with immunotactoid glomerulopathy and hypocomplementemia (low C3 level) who developed several episodes of leucocytoclastic skin vasculitis with large immune deposits in and around small vessels.

[Protein mapping of normal circulating cells: lymphocytes and monocytes].

Purified lymphocyte and monocyte populations were obtained from peripheral blood cells by ficoll-hypaque gradient and elutriation in different normal individuals. The two types of mononuclear cells were then analyzed by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. More than 1,000 spots were detected by our computer system and analyzed for each cell type.