IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE FACTOR FROM HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) OR HIV INFECTED CELLS OR CELL LINES, ITS USE, CORRESPONDING ANTIBODIES AND THEIR USE

摘要

Immunosuppressive factor purified from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or from cells and cell lines, such as lymphocytes, macrophages, lymphoblastic cell lines of T-lymphocytic origin, macrophage cell lines or hybridoma cell lines infected with HIV suppresssing the mitogen and antigen response of normal lymphocytes stimulated with mitogens or antigens as well as the growth of IL-2 dependent T-cell lines, being a glycoprotein of molecular weight of 65,000 to 70,000 daltons, losing its activity on boiling, and possibly containing a subunit having a molecular weight of 25,000 to 30,000 daltons. A process for the production of the mentioned factor is given. The mentioned factor, at least one part thereof or directly indicated synthetic analogs of this factor may be used for detecting antibodies in HIV infected persons - i.e. persons that may come to suffer from the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, also known as AIDS - by neutralizing the effect of these antibodies, in immunological methods, for producing poly- or monoclonal antibodies in animals, for purifying antibodies originating from HIV infected persons - and the antibodies resulting from this production and/or purification, for bringing about immunity for the purpose of prophylaxis or treatment (vaccination) in healthy or HIV infected persons. The antibodies so provided may be used for detecting this factor or its indicated part in serum, body fluids and tissues of HIV infected persons or for neutralizing the whole or at least one part of this factor in HIV infected persons for the purpose of treatment. A filter containing AIDS antibodies for use in plasmaphoretic treatment is mentioned.