LYSOSOME-ASSOCIATED MEMBRANE PROTEIN-1-MEDIATED TARGETING OF THE HIV-1 ENVELOPE PROTEIN TO AN ENDOSOMAL LYSOSOMAL COMPARTMENT ENHANCES ITS PRESENTATION TO MHC CLASS II-RESTRICTED T-CELLS/

A subset of endogenously synthesized Ags can be processed for class II -restricted presentation, probably through multiple mechanisms. Proces sing of exogenous Ags for class II-restricted presentation appears to occur in unique endosomal processing compartments with lysosomal chara cteristics including the presence of the lysosomal membrane protein LA MP-1. Therefore, we attempted to enhance the efficiency of class II-re stricted presentation of an endogenous Ag, the HIV-1 envelope (env) pr otein, by specifically targeting the Ag to class II processing compart ments through the pathway followed by LAMP-1. Because the env protein associates tightly with CD4 shortly after synthesis, we first targeted the env protein using a chimeric CD4 protein consisting of the extrac ellular domain of CD4 and the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of LAMP-1. When co-expressed with this chimeric protein, the env protein was efficiently localized to lysosome-like compartments. Enhanced sti mulation of env-specific CD4(+) T cell clones by APC expressing the en v protein and the CD4-LAMP-1 chimera was readily demonstrated in both cytotoxicity assays and proliferation assays. We also targeted the env protein directly as a chimeric protein consisting of the extracellula r domain of the env protein and the transmembrane and cytoplasmic doma ins of LAMP-1. The proliferative response of env-specific CD4(+) T cel l clones to the env-LAMP-1 chimera was greatly enhanced compared with wild-type env protein, especially when limiting numbers of stimulator cells were used. The enhanced stimulatory capacity of APC expressing L AMP-1-targeted Ags has important implications for vaccine design.