Isolation of Lymphocytopathic Retroviruses from San Francisco Patients with AIDS

TLDR

In San Francisco, infectious retroviruses were detected in 22 of 45 randomly selected AIDS patients and other individuals. The AIDS‑associated retroviruses studied were type D, Mg²⁺‑dependent reverse transcriptase viruses that cause lymphocyte cytopathic effects, can be grown in the HUT‑78 T‑cell line, and cross‑react with antiserum to the French lymphadenopathy‑associated retrovirus. Antibodies to the ARV were detected in all 86 AIDS patients and in a high percentage of 88 other homosexual men in San Francisco, indicating the viruses’ widespread presence and close association with AIDS.

Abstract

Infectious retroviruses have been detected in 22 of 45 randomly selected patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and in other individuals from San Francisco. The AIDS-associated retroviruses (ARV) studied in detail had a type D morphology, Mg2+-dependent reverse transcriptase, and cytopathic effects on lymphocytes. The viruses can be propagated in an established adult human T cell line, HUT-78. They cross-react with antiserum to the lymphadenopathy-associated retrovirus isolated from AIDS patients in France. Antibodies to ARV were found in all 86 AIDS patients and in a high percentage of 88 other homosexual men in San Francisco. This observation indicates the widespread presence of these lymphocytopathic retroviruses and their close association with AIDS.