Human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase T helper epitopes identified in mice and humans: correlation with a cytotoxic T cell epitope.
T cell immunity may be critical to development of a vaccine for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). T helper epitopes were identified in three predominantly conserved regions in the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase by using reverse transcriptase-immunized mice of five major histocompatibility complex haplotypes. One peptide (residues 38-52) that stimulated H-2k T cells also contained an epitope recognized by cytotoxic T cells from the same mice and from HIV-infected patients. Such concordance between helper and cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes, observed in four cases, may be important in vaccine development. Peptide 36-52 was recognized by interleukin-2-producing peripheral blood T cells from 9 of 17 HIV-seropositive humans studied, of multiple human leukocyte antigen-DR and -DQ types. The broad recognition of this peptide by both helper and cytotoxic T cells substantiates its potential importance in a vaccine.
De Groot
A S
AS
Molecular Immunogenetics and Vaccine Research Section, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Clerici
M
M
Hosmalin
A
A
Hughes
S H
SH
Barnd
D
D
Hendrix
C W
CW
Houghten
R
R
Shearer
G M
GM
Berzofsky
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D015751:Genes, pol; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D015488:HIV Antigens; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase