Cytotoxic T-cell recognition of HIV-1 cross-clade and clade-specific epitopes in HIV-1-infected Thai and Japanese patients.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and characterize cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) epitopes for HIV-1 clade E using eight known HLA-A*1101-restricted HIV-1 clade B epitopes.


METHODS
Induction of clade E-specific CTL was examined by stimulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from clade E-infected Thai individuals with the clade E-specific peptide corresponding to the clade B epitopes. Cross-clade and clade-specific CTL recognition for these epitopes was analysed using CTL clones and bulk CTL specific for these epitopes. To clarify the presentation of these epitopes in HIV-1-infected T cells, CTL recognition for the clade E-specific and cross-clade epitopes was investigated using CD4CXCR4 cells infected with an HIV-1 clade E clone.


RESULTS
Three epitopes, which are identical among clades A-E, were recognized as cross-clade CTL epitopes in both individuals. Clade B and E sequences corresponding to three epitopes were recognized as clade-specific epitopes in clade B-infected and clade E-infected individuals, respectively. In contrast, clade E-specific peptides corresponding to two other clade B epitopes failed to elicit clade E-specific CTL. CTL specific for the three cross-clade and three clade E-specific epitopes effectively lysed target cells infected with HIV-1 clade E virus.


CONCLUSIONS
These six epitopes are found to be processed naturally in HIV-1 clade E-infected cells. We show here that a strategy utilizing HIV-1 clade B epitopes is very useful for identifying clade E CTL epitopes.
Fukada
Katsuhiko
K
Division of Viral Immunology, Center for AIDS Research, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
Tomiyama
Hiroko
H
Wasi
Chantapong
C
Matsuda
Tomoko
T
Kusagawa
Shigeru
S
Sato
Hironori
H
Oka
Shinichi
S
Takebe
Yutaka
Y
Takiguchi
Masafumi
M
D003429:Cross Reactions; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D059870:HLA-A11 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D013785:Thailand
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D015488:HIV Antigens; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D059870:HLA-A11 Antigen