ABSTRACT
SeveralotherchangesarealsoconsistentwithpolyclonalBcellactivationinHIVinfection. Martinez-Mazaetal.(25)foundthattherewasanincreaseinB-cellsize;further,the percentageofBcellsexpressingtransferrinreceptor(CD71,amarkerofactivatedBcells) wasincreased,whereasthepercentageofBcellsexpressingLeu-8(LECAM-1,characteristic ofresting,unactivated,Bcells)wasdecreased.Autoantibodiessuchasrheumatoidfactor andantinuclearantibodiesarepresentinabout30%ofserafrompatientswithAIDS(23); theproductionofsuchantibodiesisusuallyindicativeofpolyclonalB-cellactivation.In addition,autoantibodiesrecognizingbothBandTlymphocytesarepresentinsomeHIV-infected persons(27).BcellsfromHIV-infectedindividualsgenerallyexhibitdecreasedproliferative responsestoB-cellmitogenslikepokeweedmitogenandStaphylococcusaureusCowanstrain A(23).ItisbelievedthatthisdefectrepresentstheinabilitytofurtherstimulateBcells alreadystimulatedinvivo.
