Human and animal serum contains naturally occurring autoantibodies that develop at birth in absence of deliberate immunization. These antibodies are predominantly of IgM
isotype but can include all immunoglobulin isotypes such as IgD, IgA and IgG. Here we describe IgM anti-
lymphocyte autoantibodies (IgM-ALA) and show that these antibodies are heterogenous with some antibodies binding to
chemokine receptors such as CCR5 and CXCR4 and others binding to other
lymphocyte receptors including CD3, CD2, CD4 and CD81. These IgM-ALA, unlike IgG antibodies, are not cytolytic to cells at 37 C and hence function to alter
lymphocyte function including
cytokine production and act as “blocking antibodies to inhibit binding of chemokines and viruses including HIV-1 and
Hepatitis C. IgM antibodies that bind to receptors on lymphocyte also bind to the same or similar class of receptors on other leucocytes and other cells such as
cancer cells and endothelial cells. The inventor claims that naturally occurring anti-lymphocyte antibodies inhibit viral infections,
cancer and several inflammatory states by binding to
chemokine receptors and other
cell membrane receptors that activate cells or promote
viral entry and replication. Inventor also claims methods for quantitating levels of IgM-ALA with different
receptor specificities to aid in preventing
disease progression and also claims methods to enhance in-vivo or in-vitro production of IgM-ALA.