title: B- and T-lymphocyte responses to an immunodominant epitope of human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: Using synthetic peptides, we characterized the B-lymphocyte (antibody) and T-lymphocyte (proliferation) responses to an immunodominant epitope of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) located near the amino-terminal end of the transmembrane glycoprotein (env amino acids 598 to 609). Both immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies against this epitope appeared early after primary infection with HIV-1. In an animal model, the IgG response to a synthetic peptide derived from this sequence was T-helper-cell dependent, whereas the IgM response was T-cell independent. In addition, antibody generated by immunization with this peptide had HIV-1-neutralizing activity. Greater than 99% (201 of 203) of patients infected with HIV-1 generated antibody to this peptide in vivo; however, only 24% (7 of 29) had T cells that proliferated in response to this peptide in vitro. These observations suggest that different HIV-1 gp41 epitopes elicit B-cell and T-cell immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, California 92037.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Schrier
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Gnann
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Langlois
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shriver
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Oldstone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins