Detection of cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for synthetic peptides of gp160 in HIV-seropositive individuals.
Four synthetic peptides corresponding to the IIIB sequence of gp160 of HIV were recently reported to stimulate Th cell function by PBL from HIV-infected, asymptomatic patients. In the present report, we used these same peptides to demonstrate CTL activity in a similar patient population. EBV-transformed B-cell lines from asymptomatic, HIV seropositive and seronegative control donors were pre-incubated with the peptides. Fresh PBL from 19 (76%) of 25 HIV seropositive donors lysed autologous targets pulsed with at least one of the four peptides. Autologous targets pulsed with two non-immunogenic peptides were not lysed. PBL from none of the eight HIV seronegative controls lysed peptide-preincubated autologous targets. The CTL activity was mediated by T cells, was predominantly MHC class I restricted, and was increased by in vitro restimulation of PBL with the peptides. HLA A-2 was identified as a restricting element for all four peptides in different patients, and for three of the peptides in the same donor. HLA-A1 or -B8 may also present some of the peptides. Thus, the same peptides can be recognized by human Th cells and class I MHC-restricted CTL.
Clerici
M
M
Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Lucey
D R
DR
Zajac
R A
RA
Boswell
R N
RN
Gebel
H M
HM
Takahashi
H
H
Berzofsky
J A
JA
Shearer
G M
GM
D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000276:immunology*; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000276:immunology*; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
D015686:Gene Products, env; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D010455:Peptides; D011498:Protein Precursors