IgG oligoclonal bands in sera of HIV-1 infected patients are mainly directed against HIV-1 determinants.

In a series of 60 HIV-1-infected individuals, serum electrofocusing analysis disclosed clonally restricted IgG patterns in 9 patients (15%), most with limited disease progression (stages WR1-WR3). These oligoclonal bands had a very heterogeneous light chain pattern, and most showed specificity for HIV-1 in affinity-driven transfer studies; virus specificity was more clear-cut following adsorption of sera with the relevant antigen. These findings further stress the profound B-cell function derangement in HIV-1 infection; their possible relevance to AIDS-associated lymphoma development is discussed.