Bulk culture levels of specific cytotoxic T-cell activity against HIV-1 proteins are not associated with risk of death

Scand J Immunol. 1999 Aug;50(2):223-7. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-3083.1999.00585.x.

Abstract

The ability of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) to control and influence the outcome of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is not fully understood. The association between HIV-CTL activity and disease progression was evaluated prospectively in 36 HIV-1-infected individuals with a median follow-up of 3.0 years. HIV-CTL activity was measured in a 4 h Cr* release assay using autologous target cells expressing HIV-1 BRU isolate gene products (gp-120, gag, pol, nef) and a bulk culture of autologous effector cells. The CD4 count was measured at enrolment and plasma HIV RNA was measured retrospectively. The present study failed to support the hypothesis that HIV-CTL activity, as measured using the present method, is important in reducing the risk of death in HIV-infected individuals. However, using other approaches and methods could possibly yield other conclusions, and further prospective studies are needed to examine the relationship between CTL and disease progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gene Products, gag / immunology
  • Gene Products, nef / immunology
  • Gene Products, pol / immunology
  • HIV Antigens / immunology*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / immunology
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / mortality*
  • HIV Infections / physiopathology
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • Gene Products, gag
  • Gene Products, nef
  • Gene Products, pol
  • HIV Antigens
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • RNA, Viral
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus