3rd Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections Washington, DC - January 28-February 1, 1996

Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 1996 Jan 28-Feb 1; 3rd:132 (abstract no. 421)

Vaccarezza M, Demarest JF, Daucher MB, Paolucci S, Graziosi C, Cohen OJ, Pantaleo G, Fauci AS
LIR, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD.

In the present study, we have analyzed the kinetics of HIV-specific cytotoxic activity in 4 HIV-infected individuals with primary infection. HIV-specific cytotoxic activity has been assessed in unfractionated and sorted CD8 + peripheral blood cell populations either freshly isolated or after in vitro stimulation with anti-CD3 mAb. In addition, the precursor frequency of HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLP) was determined by limiting dilution analysis. In all four patients (Pt. #15, #23, #27 and #30), HIV-specific CTL were consistently observed after in vitro stimulation, and the precursor frequency of HIV-specific CTL against different HIV proteins was very high, generally ranging between 0.1% and 1% of total peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The kinetics of HIV-specific cytotoxic activity were significantly different among the 4 patients. Patient #15 had gp41-specific CTL [HLA B7-restricted epitope (AA 842-850)], and this activity remained stable over time (up to one year from primary infection). Patient#23 had HIV-specific CTL against gp41 and nef at 90 days from the onset of symptoms; CTL activity against gp41 was not detected at day 154 or day 315 (CTLp < 1/1000), whereas CTL activity was still present against nef at day 315. Patient#27 had only gp-41 -specific CTL at day 28, and at day 62 he had CTL specific for both gp41 and gp120. Patient#30 had only CTL specific for gag-pol proteins at day 21 from the onset of symptoms, and this activity remained stable over time (up to 4 months). The rapid changes in the HIV-specific CTL response observed early after primary infection suggest the occurrence of strong antigen-driven selective process, which may help to explain the qualitative differences in the immune response observed among different HIV-infected individuals.

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Copyright © 1996 - Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health . Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health.