Rowland-Jones S, Sutton J, Aryoshi K, Dong T, Gotch F, McAdam S, Sabally S, Whittle H, McMichael A; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12; 10: 86 (abstract no. PA0225).
Inst. Mol. Medicine, Oxford, UK.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether HIV-seronegative commercial sex workers (CSW's) repeatedly exposed to HIV have HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). METHODS: 20 seronegative Gambian CSW's, who had been working at least 5 years, were studied. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC's) of those found to have HLA B35 or B53 were stimulated in vitro with previously determined epitope peptides from HIV-1 and 2 restricted by these common Gambian HLA molecules. Assays for HIV-specific CTL activity were performed on days 7 and 14, and where it was detected, evidence of occult HIV infection was sought by viral culture and nested PCR. A control group with B35 at low risk of HIV infection was also studied. RESULTS: 3/6 women with B35 had CTL activity against one or more of the B35-restricted peptides, which are cross-reactive between HIV-1 and 2. Two of these had detectable CTL three months later. None had evidence of persistent HIV infection by viral culture or PCR. CONCLUSIONS: The finding of HIV-specific CTL in seronegative and apparently uninfected women who have been highly exposed to HIV-1 and 2 may represent protective immunity to HIV.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- AIDS Vaccines
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Epitopes
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- HIV-1
- HLA-B35 Antigen
- Humans
- In Vitro
- Peptides
- Prostitution
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic
- immunology
Other ID:
UI: 102211349
From Meeting Abstracts