CD8+ cytolytic T lymphocytes become infected in vitro in the process of killing HIV-1-infected target cells.
In the present study the requirements for in vitro infection of antigen-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) with human immunodeficiency virus -1(HIV-1) were investigated. CD3+CD8+CD4- HIV-1 nef-specific CTL become infected with HIV-1 after short-term co-culture with HLA-matched HIV-1-infected CD20+ B lymphoblastoid cells (B-LCL) which are specifically killed. Similar results were observed with an allospecific CD8+ CTL population. In addition, co-culture experiments showed that once infected with HIV-1, these CD8+ CTL could spread the infection further to uninfected CD4+ lymphocytes. In contrast, CD8+ CTL did not become infected with HIV-1 when co-cultured with HLA-mismatched HIV-1-infected B-LCL which are not killed. These observations in vitro could have relevance in peripheral lymphoid organs contributing to the progressive decrease of HIV-specific CD8+ CTL activity that is associated with the progression to AIDS.
De Maria
A
A
Department of Infectious Diseases, Ospedale S. Martino, Genova, Italy.
Colombini
S
S
Schnittman
S M
SM
Moretta
L
L
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015693:Gene Products, nef / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000382:microbiology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000382:microbiology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000382:microbiology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D016827:CD8 Antigens; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015693:Gene Products, nef; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus