Induction of Anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) CD8+and CD4+T-Cell Reactivity by Dendritic Cells Loaded with HIV-1 X4-Infected Apoptotic Cells

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Abstract
T-cell responses to X4 strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are considered important in controlling progression of HIV-1 infection. We investigated the ability of dendritic cells (DC) and various forms of HIV-1 X4 antigen to induce anti-HIV-1 T-cell responses in autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-1-infected persons. Immature DC loaded with HIV-1 IIIB-infected, autologous, apoptotic CD8−cells and matured with CD40 ligand induced gamma interferon production in autologous CD8+and CD4+T cells. In contrast, mature DC loaded with HIV-1 IIIB-infected, necrotic cells or directly infected with cell-free HIV-1 IIIB were poorly immunogenic. Thus, HIV-1-infected cells undergoing apoptosis serve as a rich source of X4 antigen for CD8+and CD4+T cells by DC. This may be an important mechanism of HIV-1 immunogenicity and provides a strategy for immunotherapy of HIV-1-infected patients on combination antiretroviral therapy.