Rotavirus acceleration of murine type 1 diabetes is associated with a T helper 1-dependent specific serum antibody response and virus effects in regional lymph nodes.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Rotavirus infection in at-risk children correlates with production of serum autoantibodies indicative of type 1 diabetes progression. Oral infection with rhesus monkey rotavirus (RRV) accelerates diabetes onset in mice. This relates to their rotavirus-specific serum antibody titre and local pro-inflammatory cytokine induction without pancreatic infection. Our aim was to further investigate the roles of serum antibodies and viral extra-intestinal spread in diabetes acceleration by rotavirus. METHODS: Rotavirus-specific serum antibody production was detected by ELISA in diabetes-prone mice given either inactivated or low-dose RRV, in relation to their diabetes development. Serum anti-rotavirus antibody titres and infectious virus in lymph nodes were measured in mice given RRV or porcine rotavirus CRW-8. In lymph node cells, rotavirus antigen presence and immune activation were determined by flow cytometry, in conjunction with cytokine mRNA levels. RESULTS: Acceleration of diabetes by RRV required virus replication, which correlated with antibody presence. CRW-8 induced similar specific total immunoglobulin and IgA titres to those induced by RRV, but did not accelerate diabetes. RRV alone elicited specific serum IgG antibodies with a T helper (Th)1 bias, spread to regional lymph nodes and activated antigen-presenting cells at these sites. RRV increased Th1-specific cytokine expression in pancreatic lymph nodes. Diabetes onset was more rapid in the RRV-infected mice with the greater Th1 bias. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Acceleration of murine diabetes by rotavirus is virus strain-specific and associated with virus spread to regional lymph nodes, activation of antigen-presenting cells at these sites and induction of a Th1-dominated antibody and cytokine response.

Detection of human immunodeficiency virus DNA using the polymerase chain reaction in a well-characterized group of homosexual and bisexual men.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) DNA was performed on specimens from 197 homosexual and bisexual men enrolled in studies of HIV-1 infection. Thirty cycles of amplification were conducted, followed by detection with probes corresponding to two gag primer pairs (SK 38/39 and SK 101/145). Of 107 men who were HIV-1 antibody-negative, 105 (98%) were PCR-negative. Two who were initially PCR-positive antibody-negative were PCR- and antibody-negative on repeat testing of both the same specimen and specimens drawn 8-10 months later; this suggests that the first PCR results were false-positive. Of 90 men who were antibody-positive, PCR was positive in 87 (97%), including all 13 with AIDS, all 22 with AIDS-related conditions, all 11 with generalized lymphadenopathy only, and 41 (93%) of 44 without signs or symptoms of HIV-1 infection. On repeat testing, all 3 PCR-negative, antibody-positive men were PCR-positive. In this population and with this technique, PCR had excellent agreement with the HIV-1 antibody test.