title: The HIV-1 reservoir in distinct V beta subsets of CD4 T cells: evidence for a putative superantigen.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) replicates more efficiently in T cells expressing T-cell receptors using certain V beta genes, V beta 12 in particular. This V beta specificity was consistent with an HIV-1-associated superantigen. In addition, T cell-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-positive donors potently stimulated V beta 12 cell lines to proliferate in culture, but not control B beta 6.7a cell lines, thus indicating the presence of a V beta-selective mitogen. The targeted V beta subsets were not deleted. It was therefore possible that these subsets might represent a viral reservoir in vivo. Viral load was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (with HIV-1 gag primers) and with an infectivity assay to measure competent virus. It was shown that the tiny V beta 12 subset (1-2% of T cells) has a higher viral load than other V beta subsets in about 65% of infected individuals. Selective HIV-1 replication in V beta 12 cells was also observed 6-9 days after in vitro infection of peripheral blood T cells from several normal HIV-1-negative donors. In summary, a superantigen-like activity appears to promote V beta-selective HIV-1 replication in vitro and in vivo in patients infected with HIV-1. New therapeutic approaches are suggested based on these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Posnett
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kabak
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dobrescu
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hodtsev
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000821:virology*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D018089:Superantigens