AIDS virus specific CD8+ T lymphocytes against an immunodominant cryptic epitope select for viral escape.
Cryptic major histocompatibility complex class I epitopes have been detected in several pathogens, but their importance in the immune response to AIDS viruses remains unknown. Here, we show that Mamu-B*17(+) simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)mac239-infected rhesus macaques that spontaneously controlled viral replication consistently made strong CD8(+) T lymphocyte (CD8-TL) responses against a cryptic epitope, RHLAFKCLW (cRW9). Importantly, cRW9-specific CD8-TL selected for viral variation in vivo and effectively suppressed SIV replication in vitro, suggesting that they might play a key role in the SIV-specific response. The discovery of an immunodominant CD8-TL response in elite controller macaques against a cryptic epitope suggests that the AIDS virus-specific cellular immune response is likely far more complex than is generally assumed.
Maness
Nicholas J
NJ
Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA.
Valentine
Laura E
LE
May
Gemma E
GE
Reed
Jason
J
Piaskowski
Shari M
SM
Soma
Taeko
T
Furlott
Jessica
J
Rakasz
Eva G
EG
Friedrich
Thomas C
TC
Price
David A
DA
Gostick
Emma
E
Hughes
Austin L
AL
Sidney
John
J
Sette
Alessandro
A
Wilson
Nancy A
NA
Watkins
David I
DI
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000276:immunology; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes