Antibody Responses in Early Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection in Hemophiliacs

Sera from hemophiliacs were analyzed for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) by using radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP), western blotting (WB) with nonreducing buffer (NR), and WB with reducing buffer (R). We analyzed envelope gpl60, gpl20, and gp41; pol gene proteins p64, p53, and p34; and gag gene protein p24. Of 215 samples positive for reactivity to gpl60 and gpl20(RIP), antibodies to p24 were undetectable in 2 (0.9^o), to gp41 in 9 (4.2^0), to the/70/ antigens in 5 (2.3^0), to gpl20(NR) in 3 (1.4^0), and to gpl20(R) in 55 (25.6^o). By sequential analysis of samples, antibodies to gpl20(NR), gpl20(R), p24, gp41, p64Z53, and p34 were observed later in the course of infection than were antibodies to gpl20(RIP) or gpl60. This result suggests caution against reliance on WB as the "gold standard." A significantly higher rate of progression to AIDS-related complex was found for individuals lacking antibodies to gpl20(R). It is possible that antigenic domains represented by gpl20(R) may play a role in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection.