title: Inhibition of lymphokine-activated killer activity during HIV infection: role of HIV-1 gp41 synthetic peptides.
abstract: Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity was analyzed in 31 human immune deficiency virus 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients. It was found to be reduced in all groups of patients, being more pronounced in those with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex compared to HIV-1-seropositive, asymptomatic individuals. Only high doses of interleukin-2 were able to restore LAK activity comparable to that of normal controls. In addition, HIV-1 gp41 synthetic peptide sequences 735-752 and 846-860 were able to significantly inhibit normal LAK activity at all the effector:target ratios tested. HIV-1-positive serum and the supernatant fluids from cultured peripheral-blood mononuclear cells from HIV-1-infected patients had the same inhibitory effect on normal LAK activity. These data provide evidence that (1) LAK activity appears to be impaired during the course of HIV-1 infection and (2) HIV-1-positive serum and HIV-1 components could exert a profound inhibition of this functional activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cauda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tumbarello
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ortona
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Shuler
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chanh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kanda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic