Epidermal Langerhans cells--a target for HTLV-III/LAV infection.

Langerhans cells (LC) are bone marrow-derived, Ia+, CD1+, CD4+, ATPase+ dendritic antigen-presenting cells within the human epidermis. Since the CD4 molecule has been implicated as a receptor structure for HTLV-III/LAV (human T-cell leukemia virus/lymphadenopathy-associated virus), we asked whether LC from HTLV-III/LAV-seropositive individuals display signs of HTLV-III/LAV infection. In skin biopsies from 7/40 HTLV-III/LAV-infected persons (1 asymptomatic carrier, 2 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related complex and 4 patients with AIDS), LC were the only epidermal cells to react with a monoclonal antibody specific for the HTLV-III core protein p17.

Intra-blood-brain-barrier synthesis of HTLV-III-specific IgG in patients with neurologic symptoms associated with AIDS or AIDS-related complex.

Intra-blood-brain-barrier production of virus-specific antibody is good evidence of infection within the blood-brain barrier. Patients with the acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) have an increased incidence of neurologic abnormalities--i.e.

Immunological properties of HTLV-III antigens recognized by sera of patients with AIDS and AIDS-related complex and of asymptomatic carriers of HTLV-III infection.

A high correlation was found among antibodies to human T-cell leukemia virus type III (HTLV-III), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related complex. With the Western blot technique the antigens (shown as proteins with molecular weights given in thousands) in HTLV-III lysates recognized by positive sera have been identified as p120, p66, p51, p41, p31, p24, and p17. The most common reactivity was toward p41.