title: HIVgp120 activates autoreactive CD4-specific T cell responses by unveiling of hidden CD4 peptides during processing.
abstract: T cells are made tolerant only to those self-peptides that are presented in sufficient amounts by antigen-presenting cells. They ignore cryptic self-determinants, such as either those not generated by processing machinery or generated in insufficient amounts. It is anticipated that mechanisms that either change antigen processing or increase the yield of previously "invisible" peptides may be capable of inducing T cell priming and, if they are self-maintained, may sustain autoimmune diseases. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time a mechanism by which the gp120 human immunodeficiency virus-I, by downregulating plasma membrane CD4 and increasing its processing, unveils hidden CD4 epitopes, inducing an autoimmune-specific T cell response.
authors.affiliation: Istituto I Clinica Medica, Policlinico Umberto I, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salemi
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Caporossi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boffa
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Longobardi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barnaba
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D016466:CHO Cells; D002999:Clone Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D011994:Recombinant Proteins