Novel, cross-restricted, conserved, and immunodominant cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes in slow progressors in HIV type 1 infection

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1996 Dec 10;12(18):1691-8. doi: 10.1089/aid.1996.12.1691.

Abstract

HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play an important role in the immune response to HIV infection. Long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs) or slow progressors (SPs) in HIV infection may make qualitatively different CTL responses compared to those generated by seropositive individuals who progress to disease at a faster rate. The class I molecule HLA-B*57 has been identified as one restriction element overrepresented in SP groups studied, and, together with the closely related molecule HLA-B*58, occurs commonly in ethnic groups where HIV is most prevalent. In this study, we have identified five new HLA-B*57-restricted CTL epitopes recognized by SP donors, one of which is also HLA-B*5801 restricted. These HLA-B*57-restricted responses represent the dominant HIV-specific CTL response in each of the SP donors tested. These and other such epitopes may be an important component in future vaccine design.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Blood Donors
  • Disease Progression
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Ethnicity
  • HIV Antigens / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • HLA-B Antigens / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunodominant Epitopes / immunology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*

Substances

  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • HIV Antigens
  • HLA-B Antigens
  • HLA-B57 antigen
  • Immunodominant Epitopes