Publication
Cytotoxic HIV-1 p55gag-specific CD4+ T cells produce HIV-inhibitory cytokines and chemokines
Journal Paper/Review - Sep 1, 2002
Lotti Barbara, Pichler Werner J, Rosenberg Eric, Nguyen Thi, Wagner Ralf, Vernazza Pietro, Brandes Marlène, Schnyder Karin, von Greyerz Salome, Yawalkar Nikhil, Furrer Hansjakob, Wendland Thomas, Brander Christian
Units
PubMed
Citation
Type
Journal
Publication Date
Issn Print
Pages
Brief description/objective
CD4+ T-helper cells appear to be essential in sustaining immune responses in chronic viral infections, as the maintenance of CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses and the control of viremia were demonstrated to depend on CD4+ T cell help. In order to investigate the function of HIV-specific CD4+ T cells in chronic HIV-1-infection, 49 chronically HIV-infected patients were analyzed before and 3 and 6 months after initiation of antiviral treatment. Ten patients showed a substantial, although weak, proliferative response to HIV-1-p55gag protein for which no improvement was observed upon initiation of HAART. From one individual, HIV-1-p55gag-specific CD4-positive T-cell clones were generated that were heterogeneous in their TCR Vbeta gene usage and HLA-DRB1*13 and DRB1*03 restricted, respectively. In addition, some CD4+ TCC produced substantial amounts of IFN-gamma and MIP-1alpha/beta were perforin-positive, and showed cytotoxic activity. These diverse functional features of HIV-specific CD4+ T cells suggest that they may exert direct antiviral activity.