Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Virus-specific CD8(+) T cells are known to play an important role in the control of HIV infection. In this study we investigated whether there may be qualitative differences in the CD8(+) T cell response in HIV-1- and HIV-2-infected individuals that contribute to the relatively efficient control of the latter infection. A molecular comparison of global TCR heterogeneity showed a more oligoclonal pattern of CD8 cells in HIV-1- than HIV-2-infected patients. This was reflected in restricted and conserved TCR usage by CD8(+) T cells recognizing individual HLA-A2- and HLA-B57-restricted viral epitopes in HIV-1, with limited plasticity in their response to amino acid substitutions within these epitopes. The more diverse TCR usage observed for HIV-2-specific CD8(+) T cells was associated with an enhanced potential for CD8 expansion and IFN-gamma production on cross-recognition of variant epitopes. Our data suggest a mechanism that could account for any possible cross-protection that may be mediated by HIV-2-specific CD8(+) T cells against HIV-1 infection. Furthermore, they have implications for HIV vaccine development, demonstrating an association between a polyclonal, virus-specific CD8(+) T cell response and an enhanced capacity to tolerate substitutions within T cell epitopes.

Original publication

DOI

10.4049/jimmunol.171.1.307

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Immunol

Publication Date

01/07/2003

Volume

171

Pages

307 - 316

Keywords

Amino Acid Sequence, Amino Acid Substitution, Antigen Presentation, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Cell Division, Cell Line, Clone Cells, Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte, Gene Products, gag, Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte, HIV Infections, HIV-1, HIV-2, HLA-A2 Antigen, Humans, Molecular Sequence Data, Peptide Fragments, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta