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Delayed-type hypersensitivity skin testing using third variable loop peptides identifies T lymphocyte epitopes in human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons.

K V Sitz·L D Loomis-Price·S Ratto-Kim·J R Kenner·P Sau·K H Eckels·R R Redfield·D L Birx
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Abstract

Cellular immune responses to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, particularly in vivo responses, have been difficult to study in large patient cohorts because of technical impediments. By use of small peptide fragments of the HIV-1 gp120 third variable loop, the CD4 T lymphocyte epitopes of 2 HIV-infected persons were mapped using a cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) assay. The in vivo DTH responses correlated with epitopes previously identified in vitro using CD4 T lymphocyte lines. The ability to determine CD4 T lymphocyte epitopes in large cohorts of patients using this simple in vivo technique would provide important diagnostic and prognostic data regarding effective immunoregulation of HIV-1. This technique should have broad applicability in HIV vaccine development and in the investigation of other immune-mediated human diseases.

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Amino Acid SequenceCD4 AntigensCD4-Positive T-LymphocytesCell DivisionCells, CulturedEpitope MappingFemaleHIV Envelope Protein gp120HIV InfectionsHIV-1HumansHypersensitivity, DelayedLeukocytes, MononuclearMaleMolecular Sequence DataSkin TestsJournal ArticleResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

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K V Sitz, L D Loomis-Price, S Ratto-Kim, J R Kenner, P Sau, K H Eckels, R R Redfield, D L Birx. 1997. Delayed-type hypersensitivity skin testing using third variable loop peptides identifies T lymphocyte epitopes in human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons.. https://doi.org/10.1086/516517

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