T-cell response towards HIV in infected individuals with and without zidovudine therapy, and in HIV-exposed sexual partners.
HIV-specific T-cell response in HIV-infected individuals at different stages of the disease and during zidovudine therapy was studied using HIV and HIV-envelope derived native and recombinant proteins as antigens. Neither antibody-negative at-risk individuals nor HIV-infected individuals responded to HIV or its envelope-derived proteins, even though they responded to a recall antigen, purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD). However, five out of 14 antibody- and antigen-negative sexual partners of known HIV-positive men did respond to HIV, native gp 120 and recombinant envelope and core proteins. Some AIDS-related complex (ARC) and AIDS patients treated with zidovudine also showed a low T-cell response which diminished along with clinical deterioration. A synthetic peptide representing one of the major T-cell epitopes in HIV envelope, frequently recognized by immunized and infected primates, gave only marginal stimulation in man. Our findings suggest that HIV infection in man results in a T-helper cell anergy directed against viral proteins. The response observed in the antibody- and antigen-negative sexual partners and in some of the zidovudine-treated patients implies that at least some epitopes on HIV envelope are immunogenic in man.
Ranki
A
A
Department of Dermatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
Mattinen
S
S
Yarchoan
R
R
Broder
S
S
Ghrayeb
J
J
Lähdevirta
J
J
Krohn
K
K
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D014373:Tuberculin; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D015215:Zidovudine