Elsevier

Immunobiology

Volume 203, Issue 5, August 2001, Pages 756-768
Immunobiology

High Level of Anticholesterol Antibodies (ACHA) in HIV Patients. Normalization of Serum ACHA Concentration after Introduction of HAART

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0171-2985(01)80004-8Get rights and content

Abstract

Anticholesterol antibodies (ACHA) are natural antibodies against the 3β-OH group of cholesterol. Since lipid disorders are common in HIV infection and HAART may further enhance dislipidaemia, we determined by using an ELISA method serum ACHA concentrations in HIV patients and healthy HIV-seronegative controls.

ACHA levels were almost 4 times higher in the sera of 46 patients than in 110 controls. No difference in the specificity of ACHA was found between HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative sera. Binding of ACHA to cholesterol-coated plates from a HIV-seropositive serum was dose-dependently inhibited by preincubation with HIV-1 BA-L preparation. Serum concentration of ACHA was significantly higher in the patients with low serum cholesterol levels than in those with normal cholesterol levels. HAART induced a marked drop of ACHA concentration. We found a significant negative correlation between the length of HAART and the ACHA levels. By contrast, HAART did not significantly influence total IgG concentration and titers of antibodies against 60 kD heat shock protein.

Our findings indicate that high levels of ACHA in HIV-infection may contribute to the development of hypocholesterolaemia frequently observed in this disease.

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    Dr. George FÜst, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Kútvölgyi út 4, H-1125, Hungary, Phone/Fax: 361-212-9351.

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