Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)--and Epstein-Barr virus--specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors exhibit different kinetics in HIV-1--infected persons.
The frequencies of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag- and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors (CTLp) were studied longitudinally in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 9 HIV-1-infected persons. By antigen-specific stimulation, HIV-1 Gag-specific CTLp were detected in vitro throughout the course of HIV-1 infection, even after the onset of overt disease. In 4 patients, however, HIV-1 Gag-specific CTLp frequencies declined over time in the presence of maintained EBV-specific CTLp. This decline was correlated with decreasing CD4 (r = .38; P < .05) and CD8 (r = .75; P < .001) cell numbers. The maintenance of EBV-specific CTLp in patients with low CD4 cell numbers indicated that EBV-specific CTL-mediated immunity may remain longer unaffected by HIV-1-induced immune dysfunction. Consistent with this observation, the growth of EBV-specific CTL could be supported in vitro by EBV-infected lymphoblastoid B cell lines, independent of both CD4 cells and exogenous cytokines.
Geretti
A M
AM
Institute of Virology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Dings
M E
ME
van Els
C A
CA
van Baalen
C A
CA
Wijnholds
F J
FJ
Borleffs
J C
JC
Osterhaus
A D
AD
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D018450:Disease Progression; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D015683:Gene Products, gag