Hoffmann GW, Grant MD.
Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun
4-9; 5: 613 (abstract no.
W.C.P.130).
University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, Canada V6T IW5
We suggest that the following
facts are relevant to AIDS
pathogenesis. Firstly, there is
complementarity of gp120 and the CD4
protein, and there is also
complementarity of CD4 and class II
MHC. Hence gp120 can be regarded as
MHC-mimicking, and the anti-viral
immune response may include an
anti-(class II internal image)
component. Secondly, immunization
with foreign lymphocytes leads to
the production of MHC-mimicking
(i.e. MHC-image) antibodies. Since
infection with HIV usually occurs
coincidentally with exposure to
allogeneic lymphocytes, infected
individuals are likely to make MHC-mimicking
antibodies. These facts lead to the
idea that AIDS is an autoimmune
disease, that is triggered by a
combination of HIV and allogeneic
cells, rather than by HIV alone.
These two stimuli produce MHC-image
and anti-(MHC image) immune
responses that seem likely to
synergize with each other to
destabilize the system. We have
found anti-collagen antibodies in
the sera of many homosexuals, both
HIV- and HIV+, and in the sera of
16/16 homosexual AIDS patients.
These antibodies are also found in
alloimmune sera, graft versus host
disease and lupus. Our results are
consistent with AIDS being an
autoimmune disease that is provoked
by a combination of allogeneic cells
and HIV. The theory leads to further
experimentally testable predictions,
and ideas concerning possible
approaches for prevention of the
disease. It suggests that vaccines
consisting of gp120, gp160 and
anti-CD4 may cause AIDS in
individuals belonging to high risk
groups.
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