Extracellular HIV-1 Nef protein modulates lytic activity and proliferation of human CD8+ T lymphocytes.
The effect of extracellular HIV Nef (exNef) protein on the induction of lytic activity and proliferation of CD8+T lymphocytes from 18 donors was studied. At 10 ng/ml, exNef-induced a 2- to 8-fold enhancement of basal lytic activity in cells from all donors in an allogeneic induction assay, whereas it was ineffective at 100ng/ml. The extent of enhancement was inversely correlated with the basal level of lytic activity without exNef. Only in combination with PHA did both exNef concentrations stimulate proliferation, and in a manner inversely related to the effect of PHA alone. Thus, concentrations of exNef commonly found in sera of HIV-infected patients were found to modulate the induction of lytic activity and proliferation of CD8+ T lymphocytes in vitro, to an extent strongly dependent on the quite variable responsiveness of each donor. These findings point to Nef as a potential agent for modulating CD8+ T cell function in pathogenesis and therapy.
Gómez-Icazbalceta
G
G
Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Distrito Federal, AP 70228, C.P. 04510, Mexico City, México. ggicazbalceta@gmail.com
Huerta
L
L
Soto-Ramirez
L E
LE
Larralde
C
C
D017209:Apoptosis; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000494:pharmacology*
D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus