title: Activation of HIV type 1 specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes from semen by HIV type 1 antigen-presenting dendritic cells and IL-12.
abstract: Seminal HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) could provide an important immune defense against local HIV-1 infection, and be important in impeding the spread of HIV-1 infection. In this study, we demonstrate that autologous blood-derived dendritic cells (DCs) loaded in vitro with synthetic HIV-1 peptides representing known CTL epitopes activated HLA class I restricted, anti-HIV-1 CTLs and interferon gamma responses in seminal CD8+ T cells from subjects with chronic HIV-1 infection on antiretroviral therapy. CTLs specific for the same HLA-restricted epitopes were detected in semen and blood of the same individuals by stimulation with peptide-loaded DCs. Anti-HIV-1 CTL responses from semen were enhanced by stimulation with DCs loaded with HIV-1 peptides and interleukin 12. Our results suggest that blood-derived DCs have HIV-1 antigen-presenting capacity for seminal CTL in HIV-1-infected subjects. The DC-T cell system can serve as a model for immunotherapy of HIV-1 infection in the local genital tract as well as systemic blood circulation.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health and School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Xiao-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Phalguni
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Rinaldo
mesh_terms: D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D018664:Interleukin-12