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Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes from HIV-infected individuals recognize an activation-dependent, non-polymorphic molecule on
D Bienzle1, F M Smaill, K L Rosenthal
1Department of Pathology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Objectives:
Correlation of lysis of autologous CD4+ target cells by cytotoxic lymphocytes from HIV-seropositive patients to target activation, viral replication, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restriction.
Design:
Twenty-two HIV-infected patients were evaluated for lysis of activated CD4+ cells, concurrent with measurement of proliferation of the target cells, and with viral replication.
Methods:
Titrated standard 51Cr-release assays for specific effector-to-target cell recognition, blocking antibodies and cell depletion for cell characterization, incorporation of [3H]-thymidine for proliferation, and p24 antigen capture assays for viral replication.
Results:
HIV-infected patients had cytotoxic lymphocytes capable of recognizing activated CD4+ target cells in a non-MHC-restricted manner. The lysis depended on the degree of target activation, and was independent of viral replication.
Conclusions:
This cytolytic activity is unique to HIV-infected patients, and is suggestive of activation-induced cell death that may contribute to the progressive depletion of CD4+ lymphocytes during HIV pathogenesis.