title: Identification of an HIV-1 Nef peptide that binds to HLA class II antigens.
abstract: Overlapping peptides corresponding to the entire Nef (HIVBRU) sequence were tested for their relative abilities to block binding of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) to Raji cells. An internal sequence, Nef(123-160), blocked binding of two highly homologous SEs, SEA and SEE, while it was less effective against SEB and SEC1. Nef(123-160) bound directly class II DR antigens, as assessed by specific antibodies, and its binding was significantly inhibited by SEE, and also by SEA to a lesser degree. Purified Nef inhibited specific binding of SEA to Raji cells in a dose-dependent manner. Nef induced IL 2 production and proliferation by human mononuclear cells. Definitive expansion of specific V beta T cell populations was not observed, possibly due to lesser mitogenic activity of Nef relative to SEs. Thus, Nef may have mitogenic activity similar to that of superantigens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D015693:Gene Products, nef / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018089:Superantigens; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
chemical_list: D004768:Enterotoxins; D015693:Gene Products, nef; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D018089:Superantigens; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus