T cell receptor V beta repertoire of the antigen specific CD8 T lymphocyte subset of HIV infected children.
OBJECTIVE
Analysis of the T cell receptor V beta repertoire during HIV infection reveals expansions in multiple V beta families of CD8 T cells, but their antigenic specificity is ill-defined. We sought to determine the TCR V beta repertoire of HIV specific CD8 T lymphocytes in infected children.


METHODS
We performed flow cytometry to examine TCR V beta families as identified by specific monoclonal antibodies and binding of HIV peptide loaded tetrameric MHC complexes in peripheral blood samples from a group of HIV infected children.


RESULTS
Simultaneous assessment of 12 selected expanded V beta families amongst nine HIV infected patients for tetramer binding revealed only one child in whom the expanded V beta population bound HIV Gag or Pol tetramers. In four HIV infected children, percentage tetramer binding cells was determined in 21 TCR V beta families. The tetramer binding cells of three children exhibited a widely distributed TCR V beta repertoire while in the fourth patient they were preferentially localized within two TCR V beta families. Repeat analysis revealed that the TCR V beta repertoire of tetramer binding cells was stable.


CONCLUSIONS
These data provide evidence that the HIV-specific CD8 T cell response in children is usually distributed widely among many different TCR V beta families. The heterogeneity of the TCR V beta repertoire usage by the antigen specific CD8 T cells may reflect the dynamic interaction between host and pathogen during the course of HIV infection and may be influenced by the rate of viral mutation, CD4 T cell helper activity, or other factors.
North Shore Long Island Jewish Research Institute/New York University School of Medicine, Immunology and Inflammation Center of Excellence, Manhasset, New York 11030, USA.
Thomas W
TW
McCloskey
Viraga
V
Haridas
Rajendra
R
Pahwa
Savita
S
Pahwa
D000293:Adolescent; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015488:HIV Antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta