HIV-1-ENV SPECIFIC CYTOTOXICITY IN PATIENTS WITH ASYMPTOMATIC HIV DISEASE BEFORE AND AFTER IMMUNIZATION WITH RECOMBINANT GP160

Env-specific cytotoxic activity was studied in asymtomatic HIV infecte d patients and found in 46% of them. The in vitro activation and expan sion of CD8+ lymphocytes from HIV seropositive subjects resulted to be lower than that of cells from seronegative controls. A significant in crease of Env-specific cytotoxicity was observed in 35% of patients en rolled in a post-exposure immunization trial with recombinant gp 160 ( of them, 66% were receiving the immunogen in a blinded fashion). Assum ing that specific cytotoxicity limits viral growth, this preliminary r esult is encouraging for continuing immunotherapy trials.