Identification of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope type-specific T helper cells in an HIV-infected individual.
Two T helper cell clones recognizing the gp 120 envelope protein of HIV were generated from the peripheral blood of a healthy seropositive individual. These cells were type specific as they proliferated and produced IL 2 when stimulated by an epitope in the amino-terminal half of gp 120 of HIVSF2, but not by a similar region of HIVZr6, a Zairian HIV-1 isolate. These two viruses differ by 26% in the deduced amino sequence of the gp 120 protein. Moreover, the antigenic site(s) recognized by the cloned T cells are distinct from those recognized by envelope-specific antibodies. These observations have important implications for the development and use of anti-HIV vaccines.
Walker
C M
CM
Cancer Research Institute, University of California, School of Medicine, San Francisco 94143.
Steimer
K S
KS
Rosenthal
K L
KL
Levy
J A
JA
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D002999:Clone Cells; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000032:analysis*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins