This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Borek, E. Articles by Kirkpatrick, C. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Borek, E. Articles by Kirkpatrick, C. H.

Altered Excretion of Modified Nucleosides and ß-Aminoisobutyric Acid in Subjects with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or at Risk for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome¹

Department of Molecular Biology, AMC Cancer Research Center, [E. B., O. K. S., F. L. B.] Denver, Colorado, 80214; The Denver Disease Control Service, Denver Department of Health and Hospitals, [D. L. C., K. A. P., F. N. J.] Denver, Colorado, 80204; and the Conrad D. Stephenson Laboratory for Research in Immunology, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, [B. S. D., C. R. H., C. H. K.] Denver, Colorado, 80206

Urinary excretion of modified nucleosides and ß-aminoisobutyric acid, subsequently referred to as markers, was determined in populations of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or at risk for development of AIDS. Our results show that asymptomatic adult male homosexuals excreted elevated amounts of markers as compared to male heterosexuals. This aberrant excretion was more pronounced in asymptomatic adult male homosexuals with antibodies to HTLV-III. Significantly greater excretion of 1-methylinosine, N⁴-acetylcytidine, and N²-methylguanosine was observed in asymptomatic adult male homosexuals with antibodies to HTLV-III than in asymptomatic male homosexuals without antibodies to HTLV-III. Increased amounts of markers were also excreted by subjects with the generalized or chronic lymphadenopathy syndrome, AIDS related complex (ARC), or AIDS. In these subjects, the most pronounced differences between groups were between subjects with chronic lymphadenopathy syndrome and those with ARC; subjects with ARC excreted greater amounts of seven of the ten urinary markers. There were few differences between subjects with ARC and those with AIDS, Kaposi's sarcoma, or AIDS with opportunistic infections. This observation may be useful for identifying subjects who are at risk of developing AIDS. A prospective study to test this hypothesis is under way.

¹ This work was supported by USPHS Grants HL-32432 (EB), CA-35006 (CHK), HD-20612 (OKS), and a gift to the AMC Cancer Research Center from Gerald M. Quiat.

² We dedicate this paper in the memory of Dr. Ernest Borek, a distinguished scientist pioneer in nucleic acids modifications, historian and a man of culture. Deceased February 14, 1986.

³ To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Department of Molecular Biology, AMC Cancer Research Center, 1600 Pierce Street, Denver, Colorado 80214.

Received 9/ 9/85. Revised 1/ 9/86. Accepted 1/15/86.