Naturally processed viral peptides recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes on cells chronically infected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

• DOI: 10.1084/jem.180.4.1283
• Publication Date: 2004-06-24T07:56:10Z
• Authors: T J Tsomides; A Aldovini; R P Johnson; B D Walker; R A Young; H N Eisen
• Keywords: CTL*; Jurkat cells

We have established long-term cultures of several cell lines stably and uniformly expressing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in order to (a) identify naturally processed HIV-1 peptides recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) from HIV-1-seropositive individuals (b) consider the hypothesis that occurring epitope densities on HIV-infected cells may limit their lysis CTL. Each two A2-restricted CD8+ CTL specific for gag or reverse transcriptase (RT) a single peptide trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) extracts infected cells: 77-85 (SLYNTVATL) RT 476-484 (ILKEPVHGV). Both match synthetic are optimally active cytotoxicity assays consensus motif described A2-associated peptides. Their abundances were approximately 400 12 molecules per Jurkat-A2 cell, respectively. Other at subnanomolar concentrations not present cells. Except antigen processing mutant line T2, HLA-A2+ specifically lysed both CTL, although more poorly RT-specific than gag-specific suggesting low surface density natural effectiveness some HIV-specific despite vigorous activity against peptide-treated target