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Vβ‐Specific Activation of T Cells by the HIV Glycoprotein gp 160
Author(s) -
AKOLKAR P. N.,
CHIRMULE N.,
GULWANIAKOLKAR B.,
PAHWA S.,
KALYANARAMAN V. S.,
PERGOLIZZ R.,
MACPHAIL S.,
SILVER J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1995.tb03597.x
Subject(s) - superantigen , beta (programming language) , in vivo , glycoprotein , biology , immunology , enterotoxin , t cell receptor , in vitro , repertoire , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , t cell , genetics , gene , immune system , escherichia coli , physics , acoustics , computer science , programming language
Studies by several groups have suggested that HIV infection in vivo results in a Vβ‐specific alteration of the TCR repertoire and that this might play a role in the pathogenesis of AIDS. However, there is very little agreement as to which Vβ segments are affected. In order to circumvent the confounding factors present in vivo we have examined the abilities of both a crude protein extract of HIV and purified gp 160 to alter the Vβ repertoire of normal T cells in vitro . We find that both a crude extract of HIV as well as gp 160 specifically activate T cells expressing a common set of Vβ segments (Vβ3, 12, 14, 15, and sometimes Vβ17 and 20) in individuals of disparate HLA type. This set of Vβ segments is remarkably similar to those recognized by staphlococcal enterotoxin B and supports the hypothesis that bacterial superantigens produced by opportunistically acquired micro‐organisms could have an exacerbating effect in AIDS.