Delayed-type hypersensitivity to recombinant HIV envelope glycoprotein (rgp160) after immunization with homologous antigen.
Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to intradermal recombinant HIV envelope glycoprotein (rgp160) may assess cell-mediated immune responses to HIV envelope. In three studies, DTH and lymphocyte proliferation responses to rgp160 were obtained in a total of 106 HIV-seropositive subjects with CD4+ counts >400 cells/mm3. Several subjects participated in more than one study. Before immunization, DTH responses were seen in 5 of 56 (9%) of HIV-infected study subjects. After immunization with an alum-adjuvanted experimental rgp160 vaccine, DTH responses were seen in 46 of 52 (89%). Using in vitro lymphocyte proliferation activity (LPA) to rgp160 as an indication of cellular immune response, skin testing has a sensitivity of 0.75 (95% confidence Interval [CI], 0.59-0.88) and a specificity of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.72-0.92). Biopsy samples of skin that had tested positive confirmed the presence of a DTH reaction with a predominance of CD4+ T cells in the perivascular, inflammatory infiltrate. Skin testing before and after immunization with candidate AIDS vaccines could provide a simple method in the field to assess new cell mediated immune responses.
Katzenstein
D A
DA
Stanford University Center for AIDS Research, California 94305, USA.
Kundu
S
S
Spritzler
J
J
Smoller
B R
BR
Haszlett
P
P
Valentine
F
F
Merigan
T C
TC
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000209:etiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012882:Skin Tests; D014611:Vaccination; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; C053473:VaxSyn HIV-1 (gp160) vaccine