Open AccessBeyond Help: Direct Effector Functions of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Specific CD4+T Cells
Author(s) -
Philip J. Norris,
Howell F. Moffett,
Otto O. Yang,
Daniel E. Kaufmann,
Martin R. Clark,
Marylyn M. Addo,
Eric Rosenberg
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.617
H-Index - 292
eISSN - 1070-6321
pISSN - 0022-538X
DOI - 10.1128/jvi.78.16.8844-8851.2004
Subject(s) - biology , cytotoxic t cell , effector , t cell , cd8 , ex vivo , virology , cytolysis , clone (java method) , interleukin 21 , immune system , t lymphocyte , viral replication , immunology , virus , in vivo , in vitro , dna , biochemistry , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology
The immune correlates of protection in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection remain poorly defined, particularly the contribution of CD4(+) T cells. Here we explore the effector functions of HIV-1-specific CD4(+) T cells. We demonstrate HIV-1 p24-specific CD4(+)-T-cell cytolytic activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells directly ex vivo and after enrichment by antigen-specific stimulation. We further show that in a rare long-term nonprogressor, both an HIV-1-specific CD4(+)-T-cell clone and CD4(+) T cells directly ex vivo exert potent suppression of HIV-1 replication. Suppression of viral replication was dependent on cell-cell contact between the effector CD4(+) T cells and the target cells. While the antiviral effector activity of CD8(+) T cells has been well documented, these results strongly suggest that HIV-1-specific CD4(+) T cells are capable of directly contributing to antiviral immunity.