Cross-clade envelope glycoprotein 160-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in early HIV type 1 clade B infection.
A major objective of current HIV-1 vaccination strategies is the induction of HIV-1-specific CD8+ MHC class I-restricted CTL responses, which are suggested to play a pivotal role in viral clearance and protection against HIV-1 disease progression. However, the marked genetic diversity of HIV-1 and existence of distinct viral subtypes or clades could potentially hinder the development of a universally efficacious HIV-1 vaccine. In this study we examined HIV-1 intraclade (B(LAI) versus B(MN)) Env gp160-specific CTL reactivity in recently HIV-1 clade B-infected individuals. We further evaluated the extent of interclade CTL cross-recognition of the divergent A and C Env gp160 subtypes, that are highly prevalent in the global pandemic. Freshly isolated PBMCs were stimulated in vitro with autologous PBMCs infected with recombinant vaccinia vectors expressing HIV-1 env, gag, pol, and nef genes derived from HIV-1 clade B. All 13 of the 19 HIV-1-seropositive subjects who elicited significant clade B Env gp160LAI CD8+ CTL responses also demonstrated comparable levels of CTL cross-reactivity against clade C92BR025 Env gp160. Nine of these individuals also showed extensive interclade CTL cross-recognition of clade A92UG037 Env gp160. Two HLA class I B7 donors had nondetectable intraclade CTL response against B Env gp160MN, while generating significant intraclade B(LAI) and interclade (A and C) Env gp160 CTL cross-reactivity. These observations serve to underscore the central importance of the HLA background of individuals in determining the pattern of immune reactivity to natural HIV-1 infection and presumably vaccines. Five donors studied also demonstrated broad CTL cross-reactivity against clade A92UG037 Gag p55, Pol, and/or Nef antigens. In conclusion, this present study indicates that there is a considerable degree of CD8+ CTL cross-recognition of the highly divergent HIV-1 Env gp160 subtypes during early phases of HIV-1 infection. Such findings suggest that HIV-1 vaccines based on a single clade that can induce extensive cross-clade immunity may demonstrate utility in diverse geographical regions.
Wilson
S E
SE
Division of Communicable Disease Control, California Department of Health Services, Berkeley 94704, USA. swilson@hivnet.fhcrc.org
Pedersen
S L
SL
Kunich
J C
JC
Wilkins
V L
VL
Mann
D L
DL
Mazzara
G P
GP
Tartaglia
J
J
Celum
C L
CL
Sheppard
H W
HW
D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015693:Gene Products, nef / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015684:Gene Products, pol / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160 / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D015497:HIV-1; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics; D019562:Viral Load; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015693:Gene Products, nef; D015684:Gene Products, pol; D015488:HIV Antigens; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160; D011498:Protein Precursors; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus