A HYPOTHESIS TO EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF THE SUPPRESSOR AND HELPER T-CELLSIN THE IMMUNOLOGICAL SELECTION OF HIGHLY RELATED HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS ISOLATES FOUND IN INFECTED PATIENTS

It is proposed that specific human immunodeficiency virus determinants in seropositive individuals are capable of evoking very strong suppre ssor T cell responses which inactivate certain helper T cells. This he lper T cell suppression may be sufficient to inhibit the cytotoxic T c ell recognition of these specific retroviral antigens and significantl y reduce neutralizing antibody titers. As a consequence of the poor T helper cell responses to these different antigens, a number of related human immunodeficiency virus isolates are able to escape immune surve illance over the entire course of the infection. The selection and per sistence of these distinct but related viral isolates may allow the hu man immunodeficiency vi rus infection to progress to other tissues and contribute to the gradual destruction of the remaining helper T cell population. Thus, the development of an effective antiviral therapy an d possibly even a cure for the acquired immune deficiency syndrome may depend on the management of the suppressor and helper T cell activity in the infected individual.