The level of the serum opsonin, mannan-binding protein in HIV-1 antibody-positive patients.

The concentrations of mannan-binding protein (MBP) in consecutive samples from 10 HIV+ persons were estimated using an ELISA based on polyclonal rabbit anti-MBP. The changes in MBP with time were similar in HIV+ and HIV- persons, and did not appear to be of clinical significance. MBP was determined in a further 70 persons found HIV-1+ during a period of 2.5 years (1984-1986). Out of the total of 80 patients, 32 have by now died from AIDS. According to the serum level of MBP the HIV-infected persons were grouped into high (> 650 ng MBP/ml), intermediate (101-650 ng/ml), and low MBP (< 101 ng/ml). At the termination of the study the frequency of deaths/total in each of the groups were: high MBP, 14/39 (36%); intermediate MBP, 12/26 (46%); and low MBP, 6/14 (43%). There was no association between the MBP level of the individual and the progressive loss of CD4+ T cells, and the level of MBP was not predictive for the length of time between the detection of HIV antibodies and development of AIDS, nor for the duration of AIDS before death occurred. The number of HIV+ persons without detectable MBP (10%) was significantly higher than previously reported for healthy persons (2.4%, P = 0.027). The course of HIV infection does not seem to be influenced by the level of MBP, nor does the antimicrobial activity of MBP appear to affect the progression of AIDS. Further studies are required to substantiate the significance of absence of MBP in the susceptibility to HIV.