Functional evaluation of HIV/SIV Nef as superantigen.
It is speculated that a virus-encoded superantigen is involved in the pathogenesis of human and simian immunodeficiency virus infections and that the accessory protein Nef might be that superantigen. We are able to show, using a murine superantigen screening system, that Nef does not display features characteristic of a superantigen. Upon transfection into MHC class II expressing antigen-presenting cells, it is expressed, but fails to induce Vbeta-specific expansion of peripheral T lymphocytes, which is a characteristic feature of superantigens in mixed lymphocyte culture. Therefore, we cannot support the hypothesis that Nef is a superantigen. The observations in favor of that hypothesis must be explained by other mechanisms.
Lapatschek
M S
MS
Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Trogerstrasse 9, Munich, 81675, Germany.
Dürr
S
S
Sutter
G
G
Wagner
H
H
Miethke
T
T
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015693:Gene Products, nef / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D015693:Gene Products, nef; D015488:HIV Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018089:Superantigens; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus