Proliferative capacity of epitope-specific CD8 T-cell responses is inversely related to viral load in chronic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.

Journal article

The relationship between the function of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific CD8 T-cell responses and viral load has not been defined. In this study, we used a panel of major histocompatibility complex class I tetramers to examine responses to frequently targeted CD8 T-cell epitopes in a large cohort of antiretroviral-therapy-naïve HIV type 1 clade C virus-infected persons in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. In terms of effector functions of proliferation, cytokine production, and degranulation, only proliferation showed a significant correlation with viral load. This robust inverse relationship provides an important functional correlate of viral control relevant to both vaccine design and evaluation.

Authors: Day, C; Kiepiela, P; Leslie, A; van der Stok, M; Nair, K

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of virology
• Volume: 81
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 434-438
• Publication date: 2007-01-01
• DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01754-06
• EISSN: 1098-5514
• ISSN: 0022-538X
• Language: English
• Keywords: Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; Cell Proliferation; HIV Antigens; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; HIV-1; Cohort Studies; HIV Infections; Viral Load; South Africa; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Interleukin-2; Humans; Interferon-gamma