V-BETA-SPECIFIC ACTIVATION OF T-CELLS BY THE HIV GLYCOPROTEIN GP160

Studies by several groups have suggested that HIV infection in vivo re sults in a V beta-specific alteration of the TCR repertoire and that t his might play a role in the pathogenesis of AIDS. However, there is v ery little agreement as to which V beta segments are affected. In orde r to circumvent the confounding factors present in vivo we have examin ed the abilities of both a crude protein extract of HIV and purified g p160 to alter the V beta repertoire of normal T cells in vitro. We fin d that both a crude extract of HIV as well as gp160 specifically activ ate T cells expressing a common set of V beta segments (V beta 3, 12, 14, 15, and sometimes V beta 17 and 20) in individuals of disparate HL A type. This set of V beta segments is remarkably similar to those rec ognized by staphlococcal enterotoxin B and supports the hypothesis tha t bacterial superantigens produced by opportunistically acquired micro -organisms could have an exacerbating effect in AIDS.