HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase is a Target for Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in Infected Individuals

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 240; no. 4848; pp. 64 - 66
• Main Authors: Walker, Bruce D., Flexner, Charles, Paradis, Timothy J., Fuller, Thomas C., Hirsch, Martin S., Schooley, Robert T., Moss, Bernard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC The American Association for the Advancement of Science 01.04.1988; American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - immunology; AIDS; AIDS/HIV; Antibodies; Antigens; Antigens, Viral - immunology; B lymphocytes; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Cytotoxicity; DNA polymerases; DNA, Recombinant; Fovea; Ganglia; Genes, Viral; HIV; HIV (Viruses); HIV - enzymology; HIV - genetics; HIV 1; HIV Seropositivity; HLA antigens; HLA Antigens - immunology; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Humans; Immune response; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Immunotherapy; Medical research; Medical sciences; Retina; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase - immunology; T cells; T lymphocytes; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - immunology; Vaccination & vaccines; Vaccinia virus - genetics; Vaccinia virus - immunology; Viral Vaccines - immunology; Cytotoxicity; Identification; Cellular immunity; Recombinant DNA; Research; Blood; Target; Specificity; DNA polymerase RNA-dependent; T-Lymphocyte; Vector; Human; Chordopoxvirinae; Histocompatibility system; Enzyme; Orthopoxvirus; Retroviridae; Vaccine; Gene expression; Cell subpopulation; Infection; Virus; Vaccinia virus; Phenotype; Poxviridae; Viral disease; Human immunodeficiency virus
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.2451288

Characterization of the host immune response to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is critical to the rational design of an effective AIDS vaccine. In this study, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RNA-dependent DNA polymerase) were found in blood samples from HIV-1-infected individuals. CTL targets were prepared by immortalizing B cells from ten seropositive and six seronegative individuals, and then infecting these cells with recombinant vaccinia viruses containing HIV-1 genes. CTL directed against autologous B lymphoblasts expressing HIV-1 reverse transcriptase were detected in fresh blood samples from eight HIV-1 seropositive subjects, but in no seronegative controls. The effector cells were identified as major histocompatibility complex-restricted CD3+CD8+ lymphocytes. Because the HIV-1 pol gene is highly conserved among different isolates and generates both humoral and cellular immune responses, it bears consideration for inclusion in a candidate AIDS vaccine.