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G Janossy

Publications and source records attributed to G Janossy.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Immunodeficiency and the risk of death in HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the rate of development of immunodeficiency in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and to relate this to the risk of death. DESIGN: Inception cohort followed up for up to 12 years from HIV seroconversion until January 1, 1992. SETTING: A regional hemophilia center based in a major teaching hospital. PATIENTS: All 111 patients with hemophilia who seroconverted to HIV-1 between 1979 and 1985 were registered at the center. Patients have been closely followed up clinically and immunologically. OUTCOME MEASURES: Development of immunodeficiency, defined by a CD4 lymphocyte count falling beneath 0.20 and 0.05 x 10(9)/L, and death. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier estimates suggest that almost half (46%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 26% to 66%) of patients alive 12 years after seroconversion will have a CD4 lymphocyte count that has remained above 0.05 x 10(9)/L. Thirty-five percent (95% CI, 22% to 48%) remain above 0.20 x 10(9)/L. Thirty-seven patients died of HIV-related causes, and there was a 52% probability (95% CI, 35% to 69%) of HIV-related mortality by 12 years from seroconversion. Mortality risk was closely associated with severe immunodeficiency. There was only a 15% chance (95% CI, 6% to 25%) of HIV-related death occurring before a CD4 count of below 0.05 x 10(9)/L had been reached. There was an average of one HIV-related death per 96.7 patient-years of observation before the CD4 count had fallen below 0.05 x 10(9)/L, as compared with one death per 2.5 patient-years of observation after the CD4 count had fallen below this level (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with HIV infection who are closely followed up, the risk of death is low before the CD4 lymphocyte count has fallen to 0.05 x 10(9)/L, a count many patients remain above up to 12 years after seroconversion.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, CD4+ lymphocyte counts and the development of AIDS in HIV-1-infected haemophiliac patients.

After a maximum of 11 years (median 8.3 years) from the time of HIV seroconversion, 25 out of 59 (42%) of CMV-seropositive haemophiliacs had progressed to AIDS, as opposed to eight out of 50 (16%) CMV seronegatives. The age-adjusted relative risk for AIDS among CMV seropositives was 2.4 (P = 0.03). In order to determine how this adverse effect is mediated, the mean rate of decline in serial CD4+ lymphocyte counts was studied. CD4+ lymphocyte counts tended to decline more rapidly in CMV seropositives than in seronegatives (-0.087 x 10(9)/l per annum versus -0.082 x 10(9)/l per annum), but this difference did not reach statistical significance. The average CD4+ lymphocyte count at the time of HIV seroconversion was estimated to be similar in CMV seropositives and negatives, because in HIV-1-negative haemophiliacs the CD4+ counts were virtually identical, after adjustment for age (0.94 x 10(9)/l and 0.97 x 10(9)/l, respectively). The median CD4+ cell count at which AIDS developed was higher in the CMV-seropositive group (0.07 x 10(9)/l) than in the seronegative group (0.04 x 10(9)/l), but this difference did not reach statistical significance. We conclude from these findings that the adverse effect of CMV is not wholly mediated via a more rapid loss of CD4+ cells. We discuss other processes that may be mediated by CMV, such as a functional deficiency of residual CD4+ cells, or dissemination of HIV in other organs, which may be important in determining the earlier onset of AIDS among CMV-seropositive subjects.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Laboratory control values for CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes. Implications for HIV-1 diagnosis.

With the advent of standard flow cytometric methods using two-colour fluorescence on samples of whole blood, it is possible to establish the ranges of CD3, CD4 and CD8 T lymphocyte subsets in the routine laboratory, and also to assist the definition of HIV-1-related deviations from these normal values. In 676 HIV-1-seronegative individuals the lymphocyte subset percentages and absolute counts were determined. The samples taken mostly in the morning. The groups included heterosexual controls, people with various clotting disorders but without lymphocyte abnormalities as well as seronegative homosexual men as the appropriate controls for the HIV-1-infected groups. The stability of CD4% and CD8% values was demonstrated throughout life, and in children CD4 values less than 25% could be regarded as abnormal. The absolute counts of all T cell subsets decreased from birth until the age of 10 years. In adolescents and adults the absolute numbers (mean +/- s.d.) of lymphocytes, CD3, CD4 and CD8 cells were 1.90 +/- 0.55, 1.45 +/- 0.46, 0.83 +/- 0.29 and 0.56 +/- 0.23 x 10(9)/l, respectively. In patients with haemophilia A and B the mean values did not differ significantly. In homosexual men higher CD8 levels were seen compared with heterosexual men and 27% had an inverted CD4/CD8 ratio but mostly without CD4 lymphopenia (CD4 less than 0.4 x 10(9)/l). However, some healthy uninfected people were 'physiologically' lymphopenic without having inverted CD4/CD8 ratios. When the variations 'within persons' were studied longitudinally over a 5-year period, the absolute CD4 counts tended to be fixed at different levels. As a marked contrast, over 60% of asymptomatic HIV-1+ patients exhibited low CD4 counts less than 0.4 x 10(9)/l together with inverted CD4/CD8 ratios. Such combined changes among the heterosexual and HIV-1-seronegative homosexual groups were as rare as 1.4% and 3%, respectively. For this reason, when the lymphocyte tests show less than 0.4 x 10(9)/l CD4 count and a CD4/CD8 ratio of less than unity, the individuals need to be investigated further for chronicity of this disorder, the signs of viral infections such as HIV-1 and other causes of immunodeficiency.

Adolescent

The cumulative risk of AIDS as the CD4 lymphocyte count declines.

A method is proposed for assessing the cumulative risk of various AIDS-defining conditions as the CD4 lymphocyte count declines in HIV-infected individuals. The method is analogous to survival analysis but is based on the CD4 lymphocyte count rather than on time. Thus, the level to which the CD4 lymphocyte count has declined, rather than the length of time since seroconversion, is considered as an individual's survival interval. The survival interval may be censored (due to lack of follow-up) or treated as an interval to failure (if the individual develops AIDS). The Kaplan-Meier (product-limit) estimates, of the proportion of individuals developing AIDS before reaching a given low CD4 lymphocyte count, may be useful for determining when prophylactic treatment should begin.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Progression of HIV disease in a haemophilic cohort followed for 11 years and the effect of treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the progression of HIV disease in a haemophilic cohort and to show the influence of treatment. DESIGN: 11 year longitudinal clinical and laboratory study. SETTING: A haemophilia centre. PATIENTS: 111 patients infected with HIV during October 1979 to July 1985. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Symptoms of HIV infection, AIDs, and death. INTERVENTIONS: 26 asymptomatic patients started taking zidovudine or placebo (1000 mg/day) during November 1988 to February 1990; 10 patients with CD4+ counts of 0.2 x 10(9)/l started zidovudine 500 mg/day during January to November 1990. 35 patients used pentamidine for primary or secondary prophylaxis. RESULTS: At 11 years from seroconversion the estimated rate of progression to AIDS was 42% (95% confidence interval 27% to 57%); to symptoms 85% (75% to 95%); and to death 41% (25% to 57%). Progression to AIDS was significantly faster in patients aged 25 and over than in those aged less than 25 (relative risk 5.0 (2.4 to 10.4); p less than 0.00001) and in those with previous cytomegalovirus infection than in those not infected (relative risk 3.0 (1.4 to 6.8); p = 0.006). 16 of 27 (59%) patients with p24 antigenaemia developed AIDS compared with 17 of 84 (20%) patients without p24 antigen (p less than 0.001). The risk of progression to AIDS before 30 November 1988 in patients with CD4+ counts less than or equal to 0.2 x 10(9)/l was higher than after November 1988 (relative risk 1.9 (0.85 to 4.43); p = 0.1). For 1989 and 1990 the observed cumulative numbers of AIDS cases (among 81 patients with sufficient CD4+ counts) were 22 and 25 compared with 29 and 37 predicted from the rate of fall of CD4+ counts up to the end of 1988 (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Treatment seems to be reducing the progression of HIV disease in this haemophilic cohort.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Open access clinic providing HIV-I antibody results on day of testing: the first twelve months.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the sociodemographic profile, risk category, and prevalence of HIV-I infection among people attending a clinic providing counselling, medical advice, and results of HIV-I antibody testing on the day of consultation; to determine the stage of infection and peripheral blood CD4 cell count among attenders with detectable HIV-I antibodies. DESIGN: Analysis of prospectively collected data for the 12 months from March 1989. SETTING: Same day testing clinic run by the HIV/AIDS team at an urban teaching hospital. PATIENTS: 561 consecutive people choosing to attend and proceeding to HIV-I testing. RESULTS: The demand for the service caused it to run to capacity within six months. The median age of those attending was 28 years and 65% (364 patients) were male. The overall prevalence of HIV-I infection was 3.9% (22 patients). The greatest prevalence was in men reporting their primary risk as homosexual contact (11.9%, 13/109). The median CD4 cell count in the 22 patients who had detectable HIV-I antibodies was 0.31 x 10(9) cells/l (normal range 0.5 x 10(9)/l to 1.2 x 10(9)/l). Twenty of these patients were asymptomatic (Centers for Disease Control stages II or III), 14 had CD4 cell counts below 0.5 x 10(9)/l. CONCLUSIONS: There is a recognisable demand for a service providing rapid results of HIV-I antibody testing in this setting. The overall seroprevalence of 3.9% is comparable with the 5.8% reported from freestanding clinics in the United States. Most patients with HIV-I antibodies detected in this way are asymptomatic but could benefit from early medical intervention because of low CD4 cell counts.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Stages of T-cell receptor protein expression in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

In this study five monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to T-cell receptor (TCR) proteins (WT31, alpha F1, beta F1, TCR delta-1 and delta TCS-1) were used to identify discrete maturative stages in 40 cases of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). These MoAbs reacted exclusively with CD3+ T cells and did not label B-lineage and myeloid cells. In 17 of the 40 T-ALL cases studied the leukemic blasts lacked membrane and cytoplasmic TCR chains (group I). In 12 cases cells did not have membrane CD3/TCR but expressed cytoplasmic TCR proteins heterogenously: nine cases had cytoplasmic TCR beta chains (beta F1+, alpha F1-; group II), one case had cytoplasmic TCR alpha chains (alpha F1+, beta F1-; group III), and two cases were labeled by both alpha F1 and beta F1 MoAbs (group IV). The remaining 11 cases were mCD3+: nine were TCR alpha beta+ (group Va) and two exhibited TCR gamma delta (TCR delta-1+, delta TCS-1+; group Vb). The analysis of the TCR beta, -gamma, and -delta gene configurations in 23 of the 40 T-ALLs showed that: (1) the lack of TCR protein expression was due to the lack of TCR gene rearrangements only in one of nine cases; (2) five of five TCR beta+, TCR alpha- cases studied had germline TCR alpha genes (ie, no detectable TCR delta gene deletions); (3) seven of eight cases with TCR delta gene deletions expressed TCR alpha proteins, whereas in 12 of 20 of the T-ALLs with TCR beta gene rearrangements the synthesis of the corresponding protein occurred; only 2 of 16 cases with rearranged TCR delta genes expressed TCR delta chains. The T-ALL categories identified with anti-TCR MoAbs did not have additional characteristic phenotypic patterns and may correspond to the normal stages of T-cell development more precisely than those defined by other differentiation antigens.

Adult

Serial CD4 lymphocyte counts and development of AIDS.

Low CD4 lymphocyte counts are associated with increased risk of progression to AIDS in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We investigated the extent to which the timing of progression to AIDS can be explained solely in terms of decline of the CD4 lymphocyte count in 111 haemophiliacs followed for up to 11 years since infection with HIV. A median of 10 CD4 lymphocyte counts were made per patient. By applying a simple linear model for the decline in CD4 lymphocyte counts over time, we estimated the date of development of AIDS in 96 patients who had at least 5 determinations. 84% (81 of 96) of patients were correctly classified as to development of AIDS before Jan 1, 1990 (p less than 0.0001), with this model. The results suggest that differences in the time at which patients with HIV will progress to AIDS can largely be explained by differences in rates of decline of CD4 lymphocyte counts.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Human CD4+CD45R0+ and CD4+CD45RA+ T cells synergize in response to alloantigens.

Alloantigens, unlike recall antigens, activate both CD45RA+ (naive) and CD45R0+ (memory) CD4+ cells to the same extent. These T cell subsets may therefore interact with each other in response to alloantigens on transplanted grafts. We have investigated if the ability of activated CD4+CD45RA+ and CD4+CD45R0+ T cells to produce and respond to interleukin 2 (IL2) and IL4 may be involved in this interaction. After activation, both subsets up-regulate their IL2 receptor (IL2R) and IL4R expression, yet IL4 substantially enhanced the proliferation of the CD4+CD45RA+ but not of the CD4+CD45R0+ T cell subset, while IL2 increased the proliferation of CD4+CD45R0+ but not of the CD4+CD45RA+ T cells. Significantly, the CD4+CD45RA+ T cells synthesized two- to threefold more mRNA for IL2 than the CD4+CD45R0+ subset, while the CD4+CD45R0+ T cells synthesized mRNA for IL4 and interferon-gamma exclusively. The addition of IL2 to alloactivated CD4+CD45R0+ T cells further up-regulated their production of all three lymphokine mRNA; in contrast, IL4 induced an increase in mRNA for IL2 in only the alloactivated CD4+CD45RA+ subset. The reciprocity in the ability of both these CD4+ T cells to synthesize and respond to IL2 and IL4 may provide a rationale for the regulation of lymphokine interactions in vivo. Furthermore, the synergy between these subsets in response to alloantigens, which was directly quantitated by co-culturing CD4+CD45RA+ and CD4+CD45R0+ cells together prior to activation, may potentiate the alloreactivity against transplanted grafts in vivo.

Antigens, CD

The synergy between naive and memory T cells during activation.

Naive and memory T-cell subsets differ in their ability to synthesize and respond to a variety of cytokines in vitro and each subset can produce cytokines that amplify the response of the other subset. The significance of these interactions to antigen responsiveness has, until now, been unclear. In this article Arne Akbar and colleagues point out that both subsets are activated to the same extent by alloantigen and suggest that synergy may be an important event in initiating potent responses against transplanted allografts.

Animals

Immune parameters in HIV infection--a practical guide.

As it has become clear that HIV causes a progressive breakdown in immune competence that can be precisely measured, the introduction of diagnostic tests in placebo-controlled clinical trials has taken on a new importance. The task for clinical immunologists, namely to standardize these techniques through international collaboration using current understanding of pathogenesis, was the subject of a recent workshop.

CD4-CD8 Ratio

p24 antigenaemia, CD4 lymphocyte counts and the development of AIDS.

A cohort of 111 HIV-infected haemophiliacs has been followed for up to 11 years, during which time 33 patients have been diagnosed with AIDS. Twenty-seven of the cohort developed detectable p24 antigenaemia while remaining free of AIDS. These patients experienced an increased risk of progression to AIDS compared with those patients who were persistently p24-negative (relative risk 7.24; P less than 0.0001, Cox proportional hazards model). The relative risk was reduced to 5.42 (P less than 0.0001) after adjustment for age and cytomegalovirus seropositivity. After adjustment for the patients' declining CD4 lymphocyte count during follow-up, the relative risk fell dramatically to 1.97 and became non-significant (P = 0.2). p24-antigenaemic patients tended to develop AIDS at levels of similar CD4 lymphocyte counts to those who were persistently p24-antigen-negative (median CD4 lymphocyte counts, 70 and 50 x 10(6)/l, respectively). These results suggests that the association between p24 antigenaemia and the rate of progression to AIDS can be explained largely by a more rapid decline in CD4 lymphocyte count among patients with p24 antigenaemia than in those without. The major pathological effects of increased plasma viral load, as detected by the presence or absence of p24 antigenaemia, appear to act via progressive CD4 lymphocyte depletion.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

The effect of a chimeric mouse-human CD7 antibody on human T, natural killer, and lymphokine-activated killer cell activity in vitro.

A chimeric CD7 antibody has been constructed with mouse variable and human constant regions and is currently being assessed in the prophylaxis of renal graft rejection. In this study we have investigated if this antibody or its murine parental form inhibits the function of a number of immune effector mechanisms involved in host defense against infection and/or malignancy. Most memory T cells and all natural killer cells express the CD7 antigen and could therefore be affected by CD7 antibody. Murine and chimeric CD7 antibodies significantly inhibit the alloproliferation of naive (65 +/- 4% and 66 +/- 8%, respectively) but not memory T cells (86 +/- 2% and 98 +/- 4%, respectively) in a primary mixed lymphocyte reaction relative to the negative control CD10 antibody (P less than 0.001). The memory T cell proliferative response to recall antigen is also largely unaffected by murine and chimeric CD7 antibodies relative to the negative control antibody (91 +/- 12% and 103 +/- 10%, respectively). The CD7 antigen is almost completely modulated from the surface of NK cells after incubation for 24 hr with either the murine or chimeric CD7, but not the CD10, negative control. The modulation of CD7 antigen by antibody, however, does not affect the cytotoxic function of either the NK or lymphokine-activated killer cells significantly. Preincubation with the chimeric antibody however, consistently showed a small inhibition relative to the negative control of 75-80% in NK assays and to 80-90% in LAK assays. These data suggest that both murine and chimeric CD7 antibodies may have a selective effect on alloproliferation but may largely spare a major component of the host's innate immunity as well as memory T cell proliferation to previously encountered antigens.

Antibodies

More rapid progression to AIDS in older HIV-infected people: the role of CD4+ T-cell counts.

The tendency for older people with HIV infection to progress more rapidly to AIDS than younger people was studied in a group of 111 anti-HIV-positive haemophiliacs followed for up to 10 years from seroconversion. After 7 years of seropositivity, those aged over 30 years at the time of the first positive anti-HIV test had a cumulative progression rate to AIDS of 50%, compared with only 12% for those aged 10-19 years (Kaplan-Meier estimates). Overall, the relative risk of developing AIDS by any given time after seroconversion was 1.45 for each 10 year increase in age (p = 0.002; 95% confidence limits of 1.15, 1.85; Cox proportional hazards model). After adjustment for the CD4+ T-cell count (median of 10 count measurements per patient, fitted as a time-dependent covariate), the relative risk fell to 1.31 but remained statistically significant (p less than 0.05; 95% confidence limits of 1.03, 1.67). This implies that older people may be at higher risk of progression than their younger counterparts, even if their CD4+ T-cell counts are the same. Hence, prophylaxis against opportunistic infections may be indicated at higher CD4+ T-cell counts in older people than in younger people.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Human B-lymphoid differentiation: normal versus malignant.

In this review the features of B-cell development and differentiation are described for the bone marrow and peripheral B-cell system, in particular that in lymph nodes follicles. These features show many similarities to those of malignant B-cell populations. Frequently the "normal counterparts" of malignant B lineage cells are seen in particularly high frequency in the foetal lymphoid tissues. For example, foetal bone marrow shows abundant CD10+ precursors and foetal lymph nodes contain many CD5+ B cells. These similarities contribute to a better understanding of B-cell malignancy. On the other hand they provide observations also useful in interpretation of immunodeficiency such as X-linked agammaglobulinaemia and lymph nodes after HIV-1 infection. The identification of target cells in lymphoid malignancies will be important for understanding the mechanism of tumour development because the gene alterations also show target cell specificity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Molecular investigation of 19p13 in standard and variant translocations: the E12 probe recognizes the 19p13 breakpoint in cases with t(1;19) and acute leukemia other than pre-B immunophenotype.

The gene E2A has recently been cloned, mapped to 19p13 and shown to be rearranged in cases of pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with t(1;19) (q23;p13). Nine cases with a 19p13 breakpoint, four having a phenotype other than pre-B, have been investigated with the E12 probe to the E2A gene. Five cases had t(1;19) (q23;p13) and C-ALL with pre-B phenotype in four out of four cases tested. Two cases had t(1;19) (q21;p13), one with Null cell phenotype, t(4;11), and 'jumping translocations' and the other with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia M5 following bone marrow transplantation for C-ALL. Variant translocations in patients with ALL were t(15;19) (q15;p13) and t(17;19) (q21;p13). Southern blotting with E12 showed rearrangement in the cases with t(1;19) (q23;p13) and t(1;19) (q21;p13), but not in other cases with variant 19p13 breakpoints. Thus rearrangement of the E2A gene is not restricted to cases with pre-B ALL but may also occur in acute leukemias with other immunological phenotypes. Failure to detect rearrangement in 19p13 variants may be due to an E2A breakpoint outside the E12 recognition region. Alternatively, there may be further genes in this location with relevance to leukemogenesis.

Adolescent

Prevention of graft-versus-host disease with T cell depletion or cyclosporin and methotrexate. A randomized trial in adult leukemic marrow recipients.

In adult leukemic marrow recipients of HLA identical sibling marrow, 23 patients were randomized to T cell depletion and 25 received cyclosporin (CSA) and four doses of methotrexate (MTX) to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Anti-CD8 and anti-CD6 antibodies plus complement depleted 95.3 +/- 5.8% (mean +/- SE) CD3 cells. All patients engrafted except one who died early. Patients receiving T cell-depleted marrow had a faster time to 0.2 x 10(9) WBC/l (p less than 0.001), but required more erythrocyte units (p = 0.03). Platelet transfusions, infections and time in hospital did not differ. The incidence of grade II-III acute GVHD was 23% following T cell depletion and 12% for those receiving CSA + MTX. Chronic GVHD occurred in 51% and 23% in the two groups, respectively (p = 0.06). Recipients of T cell-depleted marrow who developed grade I-III acute GVHD received more T cells compared to those without acute GVHD (p = 0.02). The major cause of death in both groups was relapse, the cumulative incidence of which, at 4 years, was 39% in the recipients of T cell-depleted marrow and 54% in the CSA + MTX group. The 3-year actuarial leukemia-free survival was 42% and 44% in the two respective groups.

Adult