The Antiviral Efficacy of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Specific CD8 + T Cells Is Unrelated to Epitope Specificity and Is Abrogated by Viral Escape

• DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01912-06
• Publication Date: 2006-12-28T01:13:45Z
• Authors: John T. Loffredo; Benjamin J. Burwitz; Eva G. Rakasz; Sean P. Spencer; Jason J. Stephany; Juan Pablo Girald...; Sarah R. Martin; Jason Reed; Shari M. Piaskowski; Jessica Furlott; Kim L. Weisgrau; Denise S. Rodrigues; Taeko Soma; Gnankang Napoé; Thomas C. Friedrich; Nancy A. Wilson; Esper G. Kallas; David I. Watkins
• Keywords: Simian immunodeficiency virus

CD8(+) T lymphocytes appear to play a role in controlling human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication, yet routine immunological assays do not measure the antiviral efficacy of these cells. Furthermore, it has been suggested that CD8+ cells recognize epitopes derived from proteins expressed early viral replication cycle can be highly efficient. We used functional vitro assay assess abilities different epitope-specific T-cell lines control simian (SIV) replication. compared efficacies 26 directed against seven SIV Tat, Nef, Gag, Env, and Vif were restricted by either Mamu-A*01 or Mamu-A*02. Suppression varied depending on epitope specificities was unrelated whether targeted an late protein. Tat(28-35)SL8- Gag(181-189)CM9-specific consistently superior at suppressing other five SIV-specific lines. also investigated impact escape determining if could suppress escaped virus. Viral abrogated However, gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) enzyme-linked immunospot IFN-gamma/tumor necrosis factor alpha intracellular-cytokine-staining detected cross-reactive immune responses Gag variant. Understanding variability, therefore, will important selecting candidate for HIV vaccine.