Cross-clade immune responses to Gag p24 in patients infected with different HIV-1 subtypes and correlation with HLA class I and II alleles

Vaccine. 2008 Sep 19;26(40):5182-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.03.094. Epub 2008 Apr 22.

Abstract

Individuals infected with different subtypes of HIV-1 (A, B, C, D, CRF01_AE and CRF02_AG) were analyzed for their antigen-specific immune response with respect to their HLA genetics. The p24 Gag protein was selected for analysis, since previous studies of the same cohort of patients had shown that almost 80% of these individuals responded to Gag peptides of subtypes A, B and/or C. A large number of Gag antigen-specific responses were recorded. Both previously recognized as well as new epitopes were identified, assumed to bind HLA classes I and/or II. Fifteen individuals showed class I cellular responses to T cell epitopes irrespective of the infecting virus subtype. For five individuals infected with subtypes A, B, D and CRF02_AG, new T cell epitopes are described. Responses related to the patient's class I alleles are frequent, and several new putative class II responses were found.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Cross Reactions
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte* / chemistry
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte* / genetics
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte* / immunology
  • Gene Products, gag / chemistry
  • Gene Products, gag / immunology
  • HIV Core Protein p24 / chemistry
  • HIV Core Protein p24 / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / classification*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I* / chemistry
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I* / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I* / metabolism
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II* / chemistry
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II* / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II* / metabolism
  • Histocompatibility Testing
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / immunology

Substances

  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Gene Products, gag
  • HIV Core Protein p24
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Peptides