Characterization of a polyclonal cytolytic T lymphocyte response to human immunodeficiency virus in persons without clinical progression.
A total of 82 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-specific cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones were isolated and characterized from 5 HIV-infected subjects, utilizing multiple HLA class I alleles. B62-restricted, HIV-1 gag-specific CTL clones isolated from a single blood sample from 1 subject used four different Vbeta gene rearrangements. Multiple CTL clones could be isolated from the same time point directed against HIV-1 gag, nef, and env from 1 subject. A prospective analysis resulted in the isolation of CTL clones from 1 subject directed against multiple HIV-1 antigens, including the same highly conserved nef peptide, over a 1-year period, in the absence of detectable circulating viral plasma RNA. These data suggest that in some persons without clinical progression and low levels of circulating HIV-1, the CTL response is polyclonal, is directed against multiple HIV-1 proteins, including highly conserved peptides within these proteins, and is maintained over time.
Lubaki
N M
NM
Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
Ray
S C
SC
Dhruva
B
B
Quinn
T C
TC
Siliciano
R F
RF
Bollinger
R C
RC
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002999:Clone Cells; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D018450:Disease Progression; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000276:immunology; D015693:Gene Products, nef / Q000276:immunology; D015333:Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor / Q000276:immunology; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015693:Gene Products, nef; D009842:Oligopeptides; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus