Altered in vitro Handling of Mycobacterium Avium Complex by Monocytes and Serum from HIV(+) Patients

Abstract

In patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), mycobacterial diseases are leading opportunistic infections. The reasons for the peculiar propensity for disseminated infection with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) remain unclear. We have previously examined, in detail, the ability of monocytes from healthy donors to take up and kill MAC under both nonopsonic and opsonic conditions. We have now evaluated the in vitro ability of peripheral blood monocytes from HIV(+) patients to take up and kill MAC organisms, and have discovered a reduced ability under both nonopsonic and opsonic conditions. This reduction is due to: 1) apparent defect (s) in the phagocytes themselves, and 2) substance (s) in the HIV(+) serum which actively suppresses phagocyte activity.