Natural antibodies to HIV-tat epitopes and expression of HIV-1 genes in vivo.
The tat regulatory protein of HIV-1 was expressed as a fusion protein in E. coli and used as antigen to detect antibodies against HIV-tat (anti-tat) in the serum of HIV-1 infected children and adults. HIV-1-infected children showed a higher frequency (55%) of anti-tat than HIV-1-infected adults (36%). Anti-tat were present in only 15% (3/20) of acutely infected individuals. Forty percent (10/25) of individuals with prolonged HIV-1 infection but without antigen were anti-tat positive. Only 13% (3/23) of HIV-1-antibody-positive individuals with prolonged HIV-1 antigenemia were anti-tat positive and titers of anti-tat antibodies declined with time. Pepscan analysis identified the amino terminus of HIV-tat as the major antibody-binding site. Antibodies to HIV-tat occurred as a harbinger of HIV-1 antigen expression and disappeared thereafter, possibly reflecting the transience of HIV-tat expression. Because of the low antigenicity of HIV-tat, antibodies to this regulatory protein are not a reliable marker for either early HIV-1 infection or subsequent disease progression.
Krone
W J
WJ
Virology Department, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Debouck
C
C
Epstein
L G
LG
Heutink
P
P
Meloen
R
R
Goudsmit
J
J
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D000328:Adult; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002648:Child; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015696:Gene Products, tat; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology*; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D000939:Epitopes; D015696:Gene Products, tat; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus