Background : HIV-specific immunity, such as strong CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) responses, develops soon after HIV infection, but usually it can not control HIV replication which ultimately results in severe immune deficiency. HI...
Background : HIV-specific immunity, such as strong CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) responses, develops soon after HIV infection, but usually it can not control HIV replication which ultimately results in severe immune deficiency. HIV-specific CTLs, which are induced by HIV-specific CD4+ helper responses, are the key to cellular immune control of HIV. Measurement of HIV-1-specific CTLs using recombinant Gag protein may be very useful, because it is not restricted by HLA haplotype of the infected individual.
Materials and Methods : Enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays by using recombinant Gag protein were performed to evaluate HIV-1-specific gamma-interferon cellular responses of 25 HIV-1 infected Korean patients, who had been treated at least for the prior 12 months with highly active antiretroviral therapy at Catholic University Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital.
Results : The study group consisted of 25 chronically HIV-infected individuals with a median age of 51 years. The median CD4 counts were 556/mm³ (range : 369-994/mm³) and HIV RNA titers were < 25 copies/mL (range : <25-180copies/mL). HIV-1-specific ELISPOT assay results range from 0 to 49 SFCs/2×10^(5) PBMCs (median, 23.5 SFCs/2×10^(5) PBMCs). CMV pp65-specific ELISPOT assay results range from 5 to 591 SFCs/2×10^(5) PBMCs (median, 34 SFCs/2×10^(5) PBMCs). There was no correlation between CD4 counts and HIV-1-specific SFCs measured by ELISPOT using recombinant protein.
Conclusion : ELISPOT assays by using recombinant Gag protein may be considerable value in the assessment of cell-mediated immunity of HIV-1 infected patients.