title: Phenotypic heterogeneity of cerebrospinal fluid-derived HIV-specific and HLA-restricted cytotoxic T-cell clones.
abstract: A variety of clinical syndromes, including AIDS and neurological disorders, may follow as a consequence of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). It is not yet clear, however, to what extent the destruction of lymphocytes and neural cells associated with these conditions is caused by adverse immune responses to HIV-1 or how much is due to cytopathic effects of the virus itself. Here we document the existence of HLA-restricted, HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid of two AIDS patients manifesting neurologic disorders. These cytotoxic T lymphocytes showed dual specificity, recognizing target cells coated with purified HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (gp 120) or inactivated HIV-1 in the context of HLA antigens. Cytotoxic T-cell clones derived from one of the AIDS patients revealed restriction specificities representing both HLA class I and HLA class II antigens. Considerable phenotypic heterogeneity was observed amongst these clones, some expressing conventional combinations of cytotoxic T-cell surface markers, and others displaying unusual phenotypes. The presence of HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in AIDS patients, and in particular in their cerebrospinal fluid, suggests that these cytotoxic effectors may participate in the lymphoid cell and/or neurologic damage observed in such patients.
authors.affiliation: PROGEN Biotechnical Laboratories, Heidelberg, FRG.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Sethi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Näher
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stroehmann
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D006680:HLA Antigens; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins