Transfer of HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes to an AIDS patient leads to selection for mutant HIV variants and subsequent disease progression

S Koenig, AJ Conley, YA Brewah, GM Jones, S Leath… - Nature medicine, 1995 - nature.com
S Koenig, AJ Conley, YA Brewah, GM Jones, S Leath, LJ Boots, V Davey, G Pantaleo…
Nature medicine, 1995nature.com
An HIV-1-seropositive volunteer was infused with an expanded autologous cytotoxic T
lymphocyte (CTL) clone directed against the HIV-1 net protein. This clone was adoptively
transferred to determine whether supplementing CTL activity could reduce viral load or
improve clinical course. Unexpectedly, infusion was followed by a decline in circulating
CD4+ T cells and a rise in viral load. Some of the HIV isolates obtained from the plasma or
CD4+ cells of the patient were lacking the nef epitope. These results suggest that active CTL …
Abstract
An HIV-1-seropositive volunteer was infused with an expanded autologous cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clone directed against the HIV-1 net protein. This clone was adoptively transferred to determine whether supplementing CTL activity could reduce viral load or improve clinical course. Unexpectedly, infusion was followed by a decline in circulating CD4+ T cells and a rise in viral load. Some of the HIV isolates obtained from the plasma or CD4+ cells of the patient were lacking the nef epitope. These results suggest that active CTL selection of viral variants could contribute to the pathogenesis of AIDS and that clinical progression can occur despite high levels of circulating HIV-1-specific CTLs.
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