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Application of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microbead techniques to study the localization of p24 and p18 antigens of HIV‐1 on the surface of HIV‐1‐infected H9‐lymphocytes
Author(s) -
Dennin Reinhard H.,
Beyer Axel
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1991.tb03191.x
Subject(s) - antigen , pan t antigens , antibody , immunofluorescence , microbiology and biotechnology , cytotoxic t cell , chemistry , microbead (research) , biology , flow cytometry , virology , in vitro , monoclonal antibody , immunology , biochemistry
SUMMARY Immunofluorescence staining techniques at present, when applied to follow the expression of HIV‐1‐specific antigens on infected cells, only give the information that the antigens detected are localized in the outer region of the membrane of the infected cell. We therefore set up a procedure using magnetic polystyrol particles coated with antibodies specific for the HIV‐1 antigens under study, in combination with scanning electron microscopy. We were able to demonstrate that p24 and p18 structural antigens are clearly expressed on the surface of HIV‐1‐infected H9 lymphocytes. This means that there was no steric hindrance for structures of cell‐like size specific for HIV‐1 antigens to interact with their target antigens. Other antigens may be hidden in membrane structures and are therefore inaccessible, for example, to the beads used here, which were of a similar size to antigen‐specific cells in vivo . The results of this model system must be seen with respect to the interaction of antigen‐specific cell‐mediated immunity with full antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity, or without cytotoxic T lymphocytes, the mediator function of antibodies.