Soluble Nef antigen of HIV-1 is cytotoxic for human CD4+ T cells.
We have previously shown that Nef-gene 10 fusion protein induces marked growth arrest of human primary CD4+ T cells. Here, in vitro cytostatic and cytotoxic activities of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Nef against CD4+ T cells were extensively investigated. Growth of human CD4+ cells was inhibited significantly just by the addition of purified full-length Nef to cultures. When Nef was cross-linked by anti-Nef antibodies, it became very cytocidal for CD4+ T cells. A high percentage of sera from HIV-1-infected individuals contained soluble Nef. Thus, soluble Nef in vivo may play an important role in immunodysfunction of CD4+ T lymphocytes in HIV-1 infection.
Fujii
Y
Y
Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Otake
K
K
Tashiro
M
M
Adachi
A
A
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D015693:Gene Products, nef / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000633:toxicity*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D015693:Gene Products, nef; D015488:HIV Antigens; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus