HIV gp120 plus specific peptides are recognized in a similar manner to specific HLA plus peptide by HLA-restricted antigen-specific T-cell lines.
HIV induces disease only following chronic activation of the immune system. Other retroviruses such as the mouse mammary tumour virus (MMTV) activate a large percentage of T cells by encoding a superantigen (SAg). To date there is no evidence that HIV encodes a SAg. An alternative way to induce pan-activation of the immune system is by allogeneic stimulation, which occurs following transplantation. Here we extend previous work which demonstrated that HIVpg120 could bind peptides in a similar manner to HLA, by demonstrating that human antigen presenting cells (APCs) expressing gp120 (but not DR1) can present a DR1-restricted peptide to induce proliferation of a DR1-restricted peptide-specific T-cell line in a similar manner to the same peptide presented by a DR1 expressing APC. Our data provide strong support for the hypothesis that the HLA-like regions of gp120 encode functional properties shared with HLA, and could explain the extraordinary clinical and immunological similarities between AIDS and chronic graft versus host disease.
Sheikh
J
J
Division of Surgery, St. George's Hospital Medical School, Tooting, London, UK.
Souberbielle
B
B
Westby
M
M
Austen
B
B
Dalgleish
A G
AG
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015798:HLA-DR1 Antigen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; C059762:HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321); D006680:HLA Antigens; D015798:HLA-DR1 Antigen; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides