title: Distinct patterns of peripheral HIV-1-specific interferon- gamma responses in exposed HIV-1-seronegative individuals.
abstract: It is unclear how human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1-specific immune responses in exposed seronegative (ESN) individuals differ from those in HIV-1-infected subjects. By use of overlapping peptides spanning Gag, Tat, Nef, Vif, Vpr, and Vpu, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from ESN individuals, their seropositive (SP) partners, and unexposed seronegative control subjects were screened for interferon- gamma production. Responses were more frequent (95.7% vs. 20%), of a higher magnitude (9-fold), and of wider breadth (median number of peptides recognized, 18 vs. 2.5) in SP than in ESN individuals. Peptides recognized by ESN individuals were less frequently recognized by their SP partners. SP subjects infrequently recognized peptides from Vif, and such responses were subdominant; among ESN individuals, this HIV-1 protein was most frequently recognized. Immunodominant peptides recognized by SP subjects tended to be from relatively conserved regions, whereas peptides recognized by ESN individuals were associated with slow disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Imperial College, London, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom. anthony.kebba@mrcuganda.mimcom.net
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kebba
authors.forename: Pontiano
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaleebu
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ingram
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Whitworth
authors.forename: Nesrina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Imami
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gotch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D005260:Female; D016346:Gene Products, vif / Q000276:immunology; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D018454:Spouses; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D054320:vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
chemical_list: D016346:Gene Products, vif; D015488:HIV Antigens; D010455:Peptides; D014764:Viral Proteins; D054320:vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D007371:Interferon-gamma