Cell-mediated immune response to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 in seronegative homosexual men with recent sexual exposure to HIV-1.
Although human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 infection is efficiently transmitted by sexual intercourse, some individuals whose sexual behavior places them at extremely high risk for infection have nevertheless remained HIV-1-seronegative. An investigation was undertaken to determine whether such individuals have circulating T helper cells that are sensitized to HIV-1. Five very high risk men who had recent sexual exposure to HIV-1 were studied. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from all 5 produced interleukin (IL)-2 in culture in response to synthetic amphipathic HIV-1 envelope peptides. One of the 5 high-risk men has subsequently seroconverted, while 4 have remained seronegative. All were initially culture-negative, and those who have remained seronegative were also virus-negative by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing 10 months after they were first studied. These results demonstrate that a cell-mediated immune response to HIV-1 can be detected in the absence of a humoral immune response in individuals recently exposed to HIV-1. Furthermore, IL-2 production by T cells in response to synthetic peptides may be a more sensitive test for exposure to HIV-1 than antibody, lymphoproliferation, or PCR tests.
Clerici
M
M
Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Giorgi
J V
JV
Chou
C C
CC
Gudeman
V K
VK
Zack
J A
JA
Gupta
P
P
Ho
H N
HN
Nishanian
P G
PG
Berzofsky
J A
JA
Shearer
G M
GM
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004219:District of Columbia; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015488:HIV Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes