Constitutive expression of major histocompatibility complex class II antigens on monocytes and B cells correlates with disease in simian immunodeficiency virus-infected rhesus macaques.

Abstract

Constitutive host factors that influence progression to AIDS are understood poorly. In the macaque model for AIDS, 35 animals infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) were analyzed for major histocompatibility complex class II antigen expression on blood monocytes and B cells by immunostaining and flow cytometry. Expression varied widely between animals but was constant with time. Level of expression and the proportion of monocytes and B cells that expressed class II were not affected by SIV infection. Significantly more animals developed AIDS in the group with low class II expression than in the group with high expression (P < .001). Progression to disease was faster in animals that expressed poorly (P < .01), and opportunistic pathogens were more common (P < .05). Thus, the constitutive level of class II antigen expression may be a useful prognostic indicator for human immunodeficiency virus disease in humans and may be an important factor in the design of vaccine trials.