       Document 0295
 DOCN  M9460295
 TI    Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) nef-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes
       in noninfected heterosexual contact of HIV-infected patients [see
       comments]
 DT    9404
 AU    Langlade-Demoyen P; Ngo-Giang-Huong N; Ferchal F; Oksenhendler E;
       Biologie Moleculaire du Gene, Unite 277, INSERM, Institut; Pasteur,
       Paris, France.
 SO    J Clin Invest. 1994 Mar;93(3):1293-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94179479
 CM    Comment in: J Clin Invest 1994 Mar;93(3):920
 AB    We report on the detection of HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL)
       among 23 regular partners of HIV-infected individuals. 15 of the 46
       individuals enrolled in the study were positive for HLA-A2.1 typing.
       Among the 23 contacts studied, 7 were seropositive and 16 were
       seronegative on repeated tests. None of the 16 seronegative contacts
       were positive for p24 antigenemia nor were they positive by the
       lymphocytes coculture assay, although, in two instances HIV-1 DNA could
       be detected by PCR (in one case using a gag SK 38/39 primer, and in the
       other using a primer for the pol P3/P4 primer). These two individuals
       remained seronegative for 18 and 36 mo, respectively. HIV-specific
       cytotoxicity was performed in the 15 HLA-A2.1 subjects (7 indexes, 2
       seropositive contacts, and 6 seronegative contacts) and in 4 HLA-matched
       HIV negative donors. CTL specific for env, gag, or nef proteins could
       not be detected in unstimulated bulk cultures of peripheral blood
       lymphocytes in any of the six seronegative contacts. However, using a
       limiting dilution assay we found an usually high frequency of HIV
       nef-specific CTL precursors (CTLp) for HIV env and gag was very similar
       to that observed in seronegative HLA-matched healthy donors. Because no
       presence of HIV could be demonstrated in these individuals, these
       findings argue against the possibility of a silent HIV infection and
       suggest that a CTL response against nef may be involved in a rapid and
       effective clearance of the virus after sexual exposure.
 DE    Cytotoxicity, Immunologic  Female  Gene Products, nef/*IMMUNOLOGY
       Hematopoietic Stem Cells/IMMUNOLOGY  Human  HIV/*IMMUNOLOGY  HIV
       Infections/*IMMUNOLOGY  HIV Seronegativity/*IMMUNOLOGY  Male
       T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/*IMMUNOLOGY  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

