title: Cellular anti-GP120 cytolytic reactivities in HIV-1 seropositive individuals.
abstract: Forty-one patients seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) were assessed for cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) against autologous target cells bearing the major envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1, gp120. Effector lymphocytes from over 85% of seropositive patients showed CMC specific for gp120-coated targets, whereas seronegative individuals had no detectable CMC. As a group, symptomless individuals had the highest levels of CMC; patients with AIDS-related complex and AIDS showed progressively diminished reactivity. The gp120-specific CMC was mediated by a population of non-T-cell effectors phenotypically resembling NK/K cells. Cytolysis was not restricted by major histocompatibility complex determinants, as shown by killing of heterologous gp120-adsorbed targets and of HIV-1-infected cell-lines. Gp120-specific CMC was highly augmented in the presence of interleukin 2, so it may be possible to develop therapeutic strategies aimed at destruction of virus-producing cell reservoirs in infected individuals through stimulation of HIV-specific host CMC.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / Q000187:drug effects*; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D010641:Phenotype; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins