The influence of antigenic variation on cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in HIV-1 infection.
The propensity of HIV-1 for genetic variation, a consequence of error-prone reverse transcription combined with high rates of replication, is thought to contribute to the establishment of persistent infection in the host despite the presence of a vigorous antiviral immune response. Protective immunity to viruses is mediated primarily by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which recognize viral peptides of 8-11 amino acids bound to major histocompatibility complex class I molecules on the surface of infected cells. In this review we examine the mechanisms by which mutation within peptide antigen-encoding regions of the viral genome enables HIV-1 to evade recognition by virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The discussion is relevant to other genetically unstable viruses and more generally to intracellular pathogens of variable antigenicity.
Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, UK.
D A
DA
Price
U C
UC
Meier
P
P
Klenerman
M A
MA
Purbhoo
R E
RE
Phillips
A K
AK
Sewell
D000940:Antigenic Variation; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D015488:HIV Antigens; D010455:Peptides