Characterization of a polyclonal cytolytic T lymphocyte response to human immunodeficiency virus in persons without clinical progression

J Infect Dis. 1997 Jun;175(6):1360-7. doi: 10.1086/516468.

Abstract

A total of 82 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-specific cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones were isolated and characterized from 5 HIV-infected subjects, utilizing multiple HLA class I alleles. B62-restricted, HIV-1 gag-specific CTL clones isolated from a single blood sample from 1 subject used four different Vbeta gene rearrangements. Multiple CTL clones could be isolated from the same time point directed against HIV-1 gag, nef, and env from 1 subject. A prospective analysis resulted in the isolation of CTL clones from 1 subject directed against multiple HIV-1 antigens, including the same highly conserved nef peptide, over a 1-year period, in the absence of detectable circulating viral plasma RNA. These data suggest that in some persons without clinical progression and low levels of circulating HIV-1, the CTL response is polyclonal, is directed against multiple HIV-1 proteins, including highly conserved peptides within these proteins, and is maintained over time.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • Clone Cells
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / immunology
  • Disease Progression
  • Epitopes / analysis
  • Gene Products, gag / immunology
  • Gene Products, nef / immunology
  • Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor / immunology
  • Genes, MHC Class I / immunology
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Oligopeptides / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
  • Viral Load
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • Epitopes
  • Gene Products, gag
  • Gene Products, nef
  • Oligopeptides
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus