Antibodies to HIV-1 gp41 recognize synthetic peptides of human IFN-alpha and IFN-beta.
Based on our finding that a common epitope exists between HIV-1 gp41 and human type I interferons (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta), and increased levels of antibodies against human IFN-alpha and IFN-beta were observed in HIV-1-infected individuals, we tried to explain the mechanism of increased levels of antibodies. Mouse antisera recognizing HIV-1 recombinant soluble (rs) gp41 (aa 539-684) interacted with two synthetic peptides sequence-corresponding to the IFN-alpha/beta receptor binding site on human IFN-alpha and IFN-beta, while normal mouse serum (pooled normal sera) did not. The anti-rspg41 antisera after adsorption by IFN-beta sepharose column lost the activity of interaction with both synthetic peptides. In another experiment, rsgp41 could bind to sepharose column conjugated with anti-IFN-beta polyclonal antibodies (IgG). These results indicate that the common epitope on gp41 and type I interferons could induce antibodies recognizing the receptor binding site on IFN-alpha and IFN-beta, suggesting that increased levels of antibodies against IFN-alpha and IFN-beta in HIV-1-infected individuals could be induced by gp41.
Bai
Y
Y
Laboratory of Immunology, Research Centre for Medical Science, and School of Life Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China.
Zhao
Y
Y
Yu
T
T
Dierich
M P
MP
Chen
Y H
YH
D000818:Animals; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D000939:Epitopes; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000939:Epitopes; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010455:Peptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016899:Interferon-beta