Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0021051 (immunodeficiency)
 71,517 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Reverse transcriptases contain a highly conserved YXDD amino acid motif believed to be important in enzyme function. The second amino acid is not strictly conserved, with a methionine, valine or alanine occupying the second position in reverse transcriptases from various retroviruses and retroelements. Recently, a 3.5-A (0.35-nm) resolution electron density map of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase positioned the YMDD motif within an antiparallel beta-hairpin structure which forms a portion of its catalytic site. To further explore the role of methionine of the conserved YMDD motif in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase function, we have substituted methionine with a valine, alanine, serine, glycine, or proline, reflecting in some cases sequence motifs of other related reverse transcriptases. Wild-type and mutant enzymes were expressed in Escherichia coli, partially purified by phosphocellulose chromatography, and assayed for the capacity to polymerize TTP by using a homopolymeric template [poly(rA)] with either a DNA [oligo(dT)] or an RNA [oligo(U)] primer. With a poly(rA).oligo(dT) template-primer, reverse transcriptases with the methionine replaced by valine (YVDD), serine (YSDD), or alanine (YADD) were 70 to 100% as active as the wild type, while those with the glycine substitution (YGDD) were approximately 5 to 10% as active. A proline substitution (YPDD) completely inactivated the enzyme. With a poly(rA).oligo(U) template-primer, only the activity of mutants with YVDD was similar to that of the wild type, while mutants with YADD and YSDD were approximately 5 to 10% as active as the wild-type enzyme. The reverse transcriptases with the YGDD and YPDD mutations demonstrated no activity above background. Proviruses containing the reverse transcriptase with the valine mutation (YVDD) produced viruses with infectivities similar to that of the wild type, as determined by measurement of p24 antigen in culture supernatants and visual inspection of syncytium formation. In contrast, proviruses with reverse transcriptases containing the YADD and YSDD mutations were less infectious than wild-type virus. These results point to the critical role of methionine of the YMDD motif in the activity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and subsequent replication potential of the virus.
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PMID:In vitro enzymatic activity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase mutants in the highly conserved YMDD amino acid motif correlates with the infectious potential of the proviral genome. 138 71

Since prevalent cohorts may be biased by the duration of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (onset bias), it is useful to assess the potential predictive value of markers in incident cohorts of HIV-positive subjects for whom the date of seroconversion is known or can reliably be estimated. Of 131 homosexual men with HIV-1 seroconversion from New York City and Washington, DC, who were evaluated annually beginning in 1982, 60 developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) by the end of 1989. The prognostic significance of immunologic markers (proportion of CD4+ T-lymphocytes, neopterin, beta 2-microglobulin, serum interferon, and anti-p24 antibody) and of a virologic marker (HIV p24 antigen) was determined using measurements made at defined time intervals after the known or estimated date of HIV seroconversion. When measurements made 3 years after seroconversion were used, all markers except anti-p24 antibody were found to be significant estimators of AIDS risk in univariate analyses. In multivariate Cox regression modeling, the maximum information was obtained by including neopterin, interferon, and the CD4+ T-lymphocyte proportion. The predictive value of markers after HIV seroconversion could change considerably from one interval to another. Elevated levels of beta 2-microglobulin and neopterin significantly predicted the development of Kaposi's sarcoma. These two markers were highly correlated (r = 0.74). The authors conclude that immunologic markers can be important for an HIV staging system for estimating prognosis and facilitating early therapeutic intervention in HIV-positive patients.
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PMID:Immunologic markers of progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome are time-dependent and illness-specific. 138 11

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 12 asymptomatic patients infected with immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 4 patients with AIDS were analyzed before and during therapy with zidovudine for T helper cell (Th) function. Th function improved by more than fourfold to one or more of three stimuli tested in 9 (75%) of 12 asymptomatic patients on zidovudine therapy and in 3 of 4 patients with AIDS. Only 6 (7.4%) of 80 untreated HIV-infected control patients showed spontaneous improvement in Th function (P less than 10(-6)). Improved Th function was detected as early as 5 weeks into therapy in 6 patients and continued to be evident for greater than 1 year after start of therapy in 6 patients and for greater than 2 years in 2 patients. No correlation was observed between improved Th function and changes in CD4+ or CD8+ cell numbers or in levels of serum HIV p24 antigen or beta 2-microglobulin. These results suggest inclusion of in vitro Th function as a useful marker in determining the efficacy of antiretroviral drug therapy of HIV-infected patients.
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PMID:Reconstitution of long-term T helper cell function after zidovudine therapy in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. 138 95

Sequential plasma samples obtained from 16 individuals who seroconverted were tested for the presence of antibody to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) by an antigen conjugate enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and a conventional antibody conjugate assay. In 11 of these individuals, the antigen conjugate assay detected antibody to HIV-1 2 to 11 days (mean, 5.5 days) earlier than the antibody conjugate assay. In 11 individuals, HIV-1 p24 antigen was detected a median of 6.5 days (range, 3 to 14 days) prior to positivity by the antigen conjugate EIA. Using class-specific probes, we determined the profiles of immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgG, and IgA antibodies for each individual and correlated these profiles with the EIA signals from both assays. In general, the appearance of IgM exhibited a peak at about 1 week postseroconversion, which was followed by gradually declining levels. Absorbance levels for IgG antibody, however, rose steadily and reached a plateau after 3 to 5 weeks. The levels of IgA were generally low and variable. In contrast to the progressive increase in EIA absorbance observed by the antibody conjugate assay, the antigen conjugate assay displayed a rapid early rise in absorbance which generally coincided with the transient expression of IgM antibody. The subsequent gradual increase coincided with rising levels of IgG. Because the configuration of the antigen conjugate EIA allows for an increased sensitivity for IgM compared with that for other classes of immunoglobulins, these results suggest that earlier detection of antibody to HIV-1 is due to the detection of IgM antibody during the early phase of seroconversion.
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PMID:Early detection of antibody to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 by using an antigen conjugate immunoassay correlates with the presence of immunoglobulin M antibody. 140 Oct 2

Mycoplasma fermentans incognitus has attracted much interest either as a cofactor for the progression of AIDS or as a pathogenic agent in non-AIDS-related diseases (S.-C. Lo, M. S. Dawson, P. B. Newton III, M. A. Sonoda, J. W.-K. Shih, W. F. Engler, R. Y.-H. Wang, and D. J. Wear, Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 41:364-376, 1989; S.-C. Lo, M. S. Dawson, M. Wong, P. B. Newton III, M. A. Sonoda, W. F. Engler, R.Y.-H Wang, J. W.-K. Shih, H. J. Alter, and D. J. Wear, Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 41:601-616, 1989; S.-C. Lo, J.W.-K. Shih, N.-Y. Yang, C.-Y. Ou, and R. Y.-H. Wang, Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 40:213-226, 1989). In the present study, the genetic and serologic properties of the incognitus strain and other M. fermentans strains were compared. Furthermore, the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), determined by reverse transcriptase activity and HIV-1 p24 antigen level, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was evaluated after stimulation with mycoplasma cell lysates. The psb-2.2 viruslike infectious agent DNA probe, used to identify the incognitus strain in the tissues of AIDS and non-AIDS patients by Lo et al. (Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 41:364-376 and 40:213-226, 1989), showed reaction patterns similar to those of two M. fermentans strains isolated from cell cultures but not to that of the type strain PG18. Restriction enzyme patterns of the incognitus strain with EcoRI and HindIII were also similar to those of M. fermentans strains isolated from cell cultures. There were no remarkable differences in the immunoblot profiles between the incognitus strain and the other M. fermentans strains. These results suggest that the incognitus strain is not a unique strain among M. fermentans strains. Further, cell lysates of each M. fermentans strain could also enhance the replication of HIV-1 to a level similar to that of the incognitus strain as determined by the reverse transcriptase activity and the amount of the p24 antigen.
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PMID:Evidence that Lo's mycoplasma (Mycoplasma fermentans incognitus) is not a unique strain among Mycoplasma fermentans strains. 140 Oct 12

Immunofluorescence studies were performed on the infection of monolayer cultures of immobilized MT-4 cells with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). By using the anti-viral p24 monoclonal antibody, we could observe formation of foci of p24 antigen-positive cells within 3 to 4 days when the infection was initiated with a relatively small amount of the virus. Frequency of the focus formation was in proportion to the dose of input virus (ranging from 0.001 to 0.1 PFU/cell), which allowed us to apply this phenomenon to the assay of anti-HIV agents as well as to the estimation of relative infectivity of the virus stocks. When antiviral agents were added to the infected cultures, number of foci as well as the size of each focus was reduced in a concentration-dependent manner. The dose required for reducing the number of foci by 50% was calculated to be 6 ng/ml and 8 ng/ml for tunicamycin (TM) and azidothymidine (AZT), respectively. These values are comparable to those obtained by other current assay methods. In addition, focus reduction assay is also useful in searching for such antiviral agents that would inhibit or block the early step of viral replication cycle.
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PMID:Focus formation by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the immobilized MT-4 cell culture and its application to the evaluation of anti-HIV agents. 140 73

The association of maternal-to-infant transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) with maternal p24 antigenemia was assessed in 86 HIV-1-infected mothers. We retrospectively examined serum or plasma samples collected in the peripartum period (delivery +/- 11 days; sd 16.89 days; range, delivery +/- 2 months). Immune complexes of p24 antigen and anti-p24 antibody were dissociated using acid hydrolysis (Method A, glycine-HCl buffer; Method B, HCl) in an attempt to increase the sensitivity of the test. The detection of HIV-1 p24 antigenemia in serum was increased from 23 of 86 (26.7%) to 37 of 82 (45.1%) following acid hydrolysis with Method A (chi square = 5.4, P = 0.02) and to 36 of 78 (46.1%) with Method B (chi square = 5.874, P = 0.015). Mothers of HIV-1-infected children were no more likely to have p24 antigenemia than mothers of seroreverted infants when untreated samples were assayed (7 of 23 vs. 10 of 48; chi square = 0.348, P = 0.55). Although acid hydrolysis increased the ability to detect p24 antigen, it did not enhance any association between p24 antigenemia and maternal-to-infant transmission of HIV infection: Method A, 9 of 23 in mothers of infected children vs. 21 of 45 in mothers of seroreverted children (chi square = 0.112, P = 0.738); and Method B, 9 of 22 in mothers of infected children vs. 18 of 42 in mothers of seroreverted children (chi square = 0.014; P = 0.907), respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Lack of predictive value of maternal human immunodeficiency virus p24 antigen for transmission of infection to their children. 140 85

Didanosine has shown activity against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in both children and adults. We prospectively assessed T-helper cell (Th) function as determined by in vitro interleukin-2 (IL-2) production in response to a panel of T-cell stimuli in 22 HIV-infected children before and during didanosine therapy and we correlated the incidence of opportunistic and recurrent bacterial infections with changes in p24 antigen and CD4 counts. Didanosine (270, 360, or 540 mg/m2/d) was administered orally for periods ranging from 8 to 40 weeks (mean, 24 weeks). Five of six asymptomatic patients (Centers for Disease Control P-1) compared with 6 of 16 symptomatic (P-2) patients exhibited improved Th function (greater than threefold increase in IL-2 production to at least 2 of the 4 stimuli) during therapy. Of 12 patients without infections during therapy, 9 (75%) showed improvement in Th function, compared with only 2 of 10 patients with infections (P = .03). Notably, the incidence of infections was not correlated with improvements in CD4 count or decreases in p24 antigen. Improvement in Th function during didanosine therapy is correlated with decreased incidence of infections. Assessment of Th function may provide an additional measurement of immunologic response to antiretroviral therapy.
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PMID:Changes in T-helper cell function in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children during didanosine therapy as a measure of antiretroviral activity. 142 91

We reviewed the 22 cases of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI) infection that occurred among 196 human immunodeficiency virus-infected children seen at the National Cancer Institute Pediatric Branch from December 1986 through April 1991, and an additional 65 charts from children with cultures negative for MAI. All patients with proven MAI were receiving antiretroviral therapy with zidovudine, dideoxyinosine, or a combination of zidovudine and dideoxycytidine. All patients had disseminated MAI infection, except one adolescent who had only evidence of localized lymphadenitis. All cases of MAI but one were diagnosed before death. The overall incidence of MAI was 11% in our patients but increased to 24% in patients whose absolute CD4 cell counts were < 100 cells/mm3. Symptoms most commonly associated with MAI infection included recurrent fever (86% of patients), weight loss or failure to thrive (64%), neutropenia (55%), night sweats (32%), and abdominal pain (27%). Children infected with MAI had a mean CD4 percentage of 2% (range, 0% to 7%) and a mean absolute CD4 count of 12 cells/mm3 (range, 0 to 48 cells/mm3), significantly lower than in the remainder of the clinic population or the group of children with cultures negative for MAI. Of 20 patients with MAI infection who were tested, 10 had measurable p24 antigen with a mean value 939 pg/ml (range, 77 to 3270 pg/ml) compared with 19 of 59 patients without MAI infection in whom the mean positive value was 413 pg/ml. There was no difference in survival time between those children with documented MAI infection (median survival time, 45.5 weeks) and those with similarly low CD4 counts and cultures negative for MAI (median survival time, 50.4 weeks). Future improvements in therapeutic options may make screening of pediatric human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with low CD4 counts a reasonable plan.
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PMID:Defining the population of human immunodeficiency virus-infected children at risk for Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection. 143 13

The molecular mechanisms involved in the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) may differ in various cell types and with various exogenous stimuli. Astrocytic glial cells, which can support HIV-1 replication in cell cultures and may be infected in vivo, are demonstrated to provide a cellular milieu in which TAR mutant HIV-1 viruses may replicate. Using transfections of various TAR mutant HIV-1 proviral constructs, we demonstrate TAR-independent replication in unstimulated astrocytic cells. We further demonstrate, using viral constructs with mutations in the tat gene and in the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B)-binding sites (enhancer) of the HIV-1 long terminal repeat, that TAR-independent HIV-1 replication in astrocytic cells requires both intact NF-kappa B moiety-binding motifs in the HIV-1 long terminal repeat and Tat expression. We measured HIV-1 p24 antigen production, syncytium formation, and levels and patterns of viral RNA expression by Northern (RNA) blotting to characterize TAR-independent HIV-1 expression in astrocytic glial cells. This alternative regulatory pathway of TAR-independent, Tat-responsive viral production may be important in certain cell types for therapies which seek to perturb Tat-TAR binding as a strategy to interrupt the viral lytic cycle.
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PMID:TAR-independent replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in glial cells. 143 28


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