CHARACTERIZATION OF A POLYCLONAL CYTOLYTIC T-LYMPHOCYTE RESPONSE TO HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS IN PERSONS WITHOUT CLINICAL PROGRESSION

A total of 82 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-specific cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones were isolated and characterized from 5 HIV-i nfected subjects, utilizing multiple HLA class I alleles. B62-restrict ed, HIV-1 gag-specific CTL clones isolated from a single blood sample from 1 subject used four different V beta gene rearrangements. Multipl e CTL clones could be isolated from the same time point directed again st HIV-1 gag, nef, and env from 1 subject. A prospective analysis resu lted in the isolation of CTL clones from 1 subject directed against mu ltiple HIV-1 antigens, including the same highly conserved nef peptide , over a 1-year period, in the absence of detectable circulating viral plasma RNA. These data suggest that in some persons without clinical progression and low levels of circulating HIV-1, the CTL response is p olyclonal, is directed against multiple HIV-1 proteins, including high ly conserved peptides within these proteins, and is maintained over ti me.