Detection of HIV-1-specific CTLs in the semen of HIV-infected individuals
AJ Quayle, WMP Coston, AK Trocha… - The journal of …, 1998 - journals.aai.org
The journal of Immunology, 1998•journals.aai.org
CTLs play an important role in controlling cell-associated HIV. Since the majority of HIV
infections are acquired through sexual transmission, we investigated whether antiviral CTLs
were present in the male urogenital tract using semen as a source of T cells. We were able
to establish anti-HIV cytolytic lines in five of five HIV-infected men with CD4 counts of>
500/μl, although cloning efficiencies were lower than with peripheral blood-derived T cells.
CTLs generated from the semen of three men were analyzed in detail and showed a broadly …
infections are acquired through sexual transmission, we investigated whether antiviral CTLs
were present in the male urogenital tract using semen as a source of T cells. We were able
to establish anti-HIV cytolytic lines in five of five HIV-infected men with CD4 counts of>
500/μl, although cloning efficiencies were lower than with peripheral blood-derived T cells.
CTLs generated from the semen of three men were analyzed in detail and showed a broadly …
Abstract
CTLs play an important role in controlling cell-associated HIV. Since the majority of HIV infections are acquired through sexual transmission, we investigated whether antiviral CTLs were present in the male urogenital tract using semen as a source of T cells. We were able to establish anti-HIV cytolytic lines in five of five HIV-infected men with CD4 counts of> 500/μl, although cloning efficiencies were lower than with peripheral blood-derived T cells. CTLs generated from the semen of three men were analyzed in detail and showed a broadly active response, recognizing gag, env, and pol proteins. Detailed analysis of two gag-specific clones from one of the individuals demonstrated HLA class I restriction and recognition of the same p24 epitope (EQASQEVKNWMT). In summary, our results demonstrate the presence of a broad CTL response to HIV in the urogenital tract and provide a rationale for further studies of local enhancement of genital mucosal responses by anti-HIV immunization.
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