Longitudinal analysis of the humoral immune response to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp160 epitopes in rapidly progressing and nonprogressing HIV-1-infected subjects.

Antibody response to conserved human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)IIIB gp160 epitopes was longitudinally examined in HIV-1-infected persons. Twelve hundred individuals were evaluated, and sequential sera from 25 rapidly progressing (RP) and 30 nonprogressing (NP) subjects collected over an average of 4 years were examined. Initial sera from the RP group contained greater reactivity to a gp120 epitope defined by peptide 503-528 than did sera from the NP group (P < .001). Reactivity declined with sequential sera for the RP group, paralleling disease progression. Conversely, antibody recognition to this site developed in 23% of the NP group with time. However, 60% of the NP group never developed a response to this epitope. This suggests sequential examination of antibody response to an epitope within the gp120 carboxyl-terminus may have prognostic significance. No association between antibodies directed against the gp160 epitopes and in vitro neutralizing activity against HIV-1IIIB was observed.