Anti-CD4 Antibodies are Associated with HIV-1 Seroconversion and May Be Detectable Before Anti-HIV-1 Antibodies

We examined the sera from 14 HIV-1 seroconverters for the presence of autoantibodies against CD4. Anti-CD4 antibodies were detected in the serum of 11 of 13 HIV-1-infected persons at the time of HIV-1 seroconversion. In 6 of 14 persons from whom a serum was obtained prior to HIV-1 seroconversion, anti-CD4 antibodies were found 90 to 540 days before antibodies to HIV-1 were detectable. In comparison, anti-CD4 antibodies were present in only 7 serum samples from 62 HIV-1 seronegative individuals, including 50 from a seronegative homosexual male cohort. These results suggest that anti-CD4 antibodies are generated in response to early HIV-1 infection and possibly could be used as a marker for HIV-1 infection in some infected persons who are seronegative for HIV-1.