title: Detection of cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for synthetic peptides of gp160 in HIV-seropositive individuals.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerici
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lucey
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Zajac
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Boswell
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Gebel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Berzofsky
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Shearer
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015686:Gene Products, env; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D010455:Peptides; D011498:Protein Precursors